Hive #4

Hive #4 is missing a queen.  I knew something was wrong when I look at all the hives and this one has the least activity.  You kinda get a feel for what's happening and how each hive works when you can look at them several times a day - they're at the end of my garden so when I'm outside it's easy to see. 

So I opened the hive yesterday and sure enough, no sign of a queen and no brood.  But lots of open queen cells - maybe 6 or more.  I decided to leave well enough alone and hope they make their own queen.  I'll open the hive in about two weeks.  I can look at the front of the hive and see if they're bringing in pollen - that's a sure sign of a queen in the hive.  There's lots of bees in the hive and drones.  Again, don't know what happened to the queen. 

June Flowers

   

Squash and Tomatoes

I've got yellow squash and zucchini.  And I've got some tomatoes on the vine but it'll be awhile before they're ready.  Also onions and radishes (although the radishes will break your teeth) - they're a little tough.
We're having May showers and it's been hotter.  The garden looks good.

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Tepee

A morning glory tepee in the garden.   I used fishing line and a staple gun to attach the line around the bamboo so the vines will have something to climb as they grow up.
I have left one side open. I moved about 7-8 morning glorys and they're doing great.

Worms

Mr. Ellis brought a queen today for Nuc #4.  It was a little late - as you can see the worms have taken over.  In a couple of days, these worms would have become wax moths and then everything would be gone.  So we took apart the hive and left everything for the bees to take what honey was on the frames.  I'll clean everything in a day or so.  Disappointing but these things happen - who knows what happened to the queen - so many scenarios. 

We checked all the other hives and put a super on Hive #6 and on the Swarm Hive.  So now I have 5 very strong hives.  I'll still have plenty of honey and enough for the bees in the winter too.  Mr. Ellis is going to do a split on one of his hives so he'll use the queen. 

Geese at the River

Geese will return to the exact site of the previous years nest each year to mate and nest. Nesting season is mid March to May. The average number of eggs in a nest is 5-6 but there can be as many as 10-12.
Incubation time is 28 – 30 days. The goslings will be able to fly in 2-3 months.
Maybe 10 babies in this little family.

Bees

Today Mr. Ellis and I checked the bees again.  I had picked up some foundation for him so his trip was twofold.  Not much change today - just checking to make sure all the hives have room. 

Added a super to the Swarm Hive. Nuc #1 - switched 4 filled out frames of honey from Nuc #4.  I had added a super on 4/10/12 to Nuc #1 but they had done nothing toward filling the frames.  Was concerned about wax moths with all that space now that it's gonna be so hot.  

Lots of bees in all the hives and the biggest drones I've ever seen.  

Everything looks good.

New Foundation



Swarm Hive