You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
I got her back! The itallian queen that took off with half my hive showed up again today and all by my self, I went out and stuffed her back in a hive. I am still shaking. She only had about a thousand of her workers left, so we'll see what happens. This is it though. If she leaves again, I'm not going after her. (Well, at least I say that now...)
Can't wait till the husband gets home and see's what I did...BY MY SELF! Me, who is afraid of bees. This will impress him much more than the powdered sugar doughnut I brought him.
I had to go out a second time and dump them in the box. Evidentaly, I missed the queen the first time and they all were back on the branch an hour later. The bee suit is too big and the hat falls over my eyes, so evidentally I couldn't see if she went in or not. Or maybe she just crawled back out, I have to remember who I'm dealing with here. Anyway, back in the bee suit and out to the tree. I spritzed the hive with lemon pledge (I heard this was supposed to make it more appealing) and took all the frames out and shook them in again, then put everything back together again. They had their little butts in the air and were fanning like crazy, so I knew I had her this time (still couldn't see through the hat to find the queen).
When the Husband came home, he was duly impressed and after he ate his doughnut, we went out to move the hive to the stand. We peeked inside and there were TWICE as many bees as I put in there! There must have been more on annother branch or in the air, because every frame was filled with bees drawing out comb. Now everyone is all tucked in with food and hopefully she will give us annother strong hive.
Hmmm, I only wanted one, now I have three. Well, this way I have a better chance of having at least one hive next Spring. And if they all make it, I'll just have to start someone else out with bees. (Why should I be the only one having all this fun!)
I hope you get to see it next time. It is facinating! I also got to witness a mateing flight last month. We've only been at this since May and I've realy enjoyed the bees. Today in the pool (I use the term loosely, it's plastic and inflates) the bees were landing on me to get to the water.
