Hello Beepeeple!

[Maggiesdad]

It's OK.
Remember, this was the weakest of the three 2lb packages... because of how I shook them out, there were bees from two packages in this bunch. They formed two clusters. I broke one of them the morning it got down to 16°. I dropped a bunch of them in cold syrup... These girls had the heavy handed interfering newbie against them from the get go. And now it's in it's sixth week. The numbers just aren't there. They started 5 combs, but the big ones are only about 5" deep. I'll use them for the good, and chalk it up to experience.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Now what?! I inspected again today, and there she was, prancing around on the comb! I was so bowled over I forgot to take a pic... I closed the hive right back up. Now I'm pondering what to do - I've read she won't lay If they can't keep the comb warm. Any ideas?

I inspected the booming hive, and lo and behold, saw Her Highness in that box, too! - I'll post up pics in Hello Beepeople...

 

[Maggiesdad]

Well duh, Glen... This IS Hello Beepeople!

 

[Maggiesdad]

I love this one with the crossed anntennae... I can almost hear the worker saying "Yes, Ma'am"

 

[mikiz]

Aren't they just the sweetest! Makes me want bees so much more seeing you work with them and hearing how they're going!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Now what?! I inspected again today, and there she was, prancing around on the comb! I was so bowled over I forgot to take a pic... I closed the hive right back up. Now I'm pondering what to do - I've read she won't lay If they can't keep the comb warm. Any ideas?

I inspected the booming hive, and lo and behold, saw Her Highness in that box, too! - I'll post up pics in Hello Beepeople...

I'm not sure. Are there enough bees to keep her warm? I'd probably wait and see how she does. If there are enough bees to last a few weeks, and she does start laying, the situation will change quickly and she will have plenty of bees. She may just lay a smaller cluster for the bees that are there to keep the brood warm.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Last night was the first time I've seen bees guarding the hive entrance after dark. It was 65°.
And this morning pollen was headed back in at 7:30am - 2 hours earlier than anything prior! Tulip Poplar opened today, and we got 1.1" of rain this evening...
It's a good time to be a bee.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Poplar is supposed to be great for the bees. Fingers crossed that she kicks into gear!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Boring day here today. We have some rain, so no bee activity.

 

[Maggiesdad]

I'll post up some pics tonite... going to do an inspection now.