Neighbors honeybees swarming again in spring

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alx

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
Feb 4, 2009
2,835
12
Annapolis,Maryland
When i get over to my garden before/after work this time of year- if i see a ladder in a tree- my edelery(80 plus) neighbor had another Queen try to bolt the hive-very common.

Here they are in tree near hives


I got the queen to go back to hive with a screen from the hive with honey on it and the workers followed.No shots of that with me in moon suit but it was succesful.Only 2-4 more swarms to go





It all works out- get excellent pollination on my open pollinated plants in my garden next door
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Can't tell you how lucky you are ALX!
All the bees dying off the past several years I have been planting lots of flowers, plants and fruit trees to try and stimulate the bee population. This year I am finally doing a homemade type of hive in the hopes that they nest and help our whole area pollinate.
Got plenty of wood borers around here, they love to F*** with me when ever it is sunny and I am out there smoking!
Any tips or knowledge you have picked up that would be useful? I would really like to breed or at least help the population thrive once again.
Not so interested in the honey aspect, just want to help them thrive for proper pollination.
So far this year we have a good amount of baby bees flying around, I hope they can finally make a comeback.
 
We got hit badly with colony claps in the UK; I lost most of my Bees.

I am in the proses of sorting out the 2 colonies that I have left and will move them down to my retrial cottage at the back end of the year, can’t really run a smoker without Honey.

Regards to the old gentleman, I hope I am still fit enough to clamber up ladders at 80.
 
Sorry to hear that.My neighbor is in the local bee-keeping guild and we have been spared so far-30mile radius.He has had problems with imported chinese mites destroying honeycombs etc.-but so far manageable.I use alot in bbq myself.I love honey, probably one of the oldest medicinal remedies known to man and tastes good to boot.
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My neighbors family has been producing honey for probably 2 hundred years from south west virginia to here in maryland.P.M. and i will ask him-he is way more knowledgable then me, but i have learned a little last few years.
 
Update on the HIVES

APRIL 22





Yesterday.The HIVES on right side are loaded and the one HIVE on left.






Neighbor also makes a little BEE'S WAX from the combs.Candle makers etc. love it...

COWGIRL mentioned to me about smoking honey.I use alot of honey and that is something i will try.Hopefully another 50-60 pounds of honey this year.
 
I know they're God's little helpers and so necessary to plant life, but I hate bees. Scared to death of 'em. Run like a little school girl when they're around. Can't imagine living next door to all those little stingers
 
I love those little buggers.
Felt so bad when they were all dying of "bee AIDS", luckily they are making a comeback.
You're pretty lucky to have so many pollinators so close to you ALX, bet you never even have to think about hand pollinating anything in the garden.
 
Never been stung-Nothing like hornets,yellow jackets etc.

Just strange thinking of the DUDE running like a little school girl.
 
The final product.The honey is clear and very tasty.My garden neighbor made 100 pounds from this years hives....

Definetly will include some in exchanges with some of you folks...
 
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