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Spring Break with the Grandkids…
Summary: During Spring Break, the narrator spent quality time with their grandkids. They worked on building a swarm trap and visited Stark Caverns, enjoying a military discount for the tour. The cave had unique formations and a steep climb. After the tour, they had lunch and ice cream, making it a memorable day.
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Busy Weekend…
After a setback due to illness, a weekend of catching up on spring activities involved preparing frames and comb for swarm traps and hive boxes, using a wire embedder for frame foundation, fixing and painting swarm traps, and extracting beeswax. Despite challenges, the weekend was productive, concluding with the placement of a refurbished trap.
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Spring activities?
As warm weather arrives, the beekeeper observes the survival of their colonies and prepares for the hazardous time when flowers may be scarce. A late-season swarm has thrived, and the bees are active despite the lack of flowers. Plans for colony expansion and creating artificial splits are underway, along with building swarm boxes.
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Sunshine hive update…
8/12/2023 Between the two weeks of very high temperatures followed by what seemed two weeks of monsoonal like rain, it has been hard to check up on the bees. Last week between storms, we went down to the apiary to observe bee activity from the three hives. The hives that contain the swarms we trapped…
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Homing swarm two…
7/14/2023 After a blissful 6 hour nap, it’s time get the bees into their hive. Normally, we look forward to this event, but after last night we are not sure of the disposition of the bees. It’s much cooler this morning and that helps. So we grab the smoker, some cutup burlap, and the lighter…
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Good idea, but…
7/13/2023 Just finished moving a swarm trap from Howard County to home. It is full of bees who are pretty upset. Originally, the plan was to move them yesterday the 12th, but severe weather keep us in for the night – mostly without power. The last few weeks we have talked to several people who…
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A Walk and Trap Inspection…
On 7/7/2023, with a clear schedule and pleasant weather, a walk along the Katy Trail was planned. Despite initial confusion and an extended 9-mile hike, the journey led to discovering active bee activity, with plans to retrieve the colony. The day concluded with a late lunch at the Meriwether Cafe and Bike Shop in Rocheport,…
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Swarm trap collection…
6/22/2023 Yesterday afternoon we rechecked the swarm trap in Callaway County and found it to be empty. Kind of disappointing, but that’s how it works. We were in contact with the family in Howard County off and on all week who confirmed bee activity at that trap. Last night, I had an American Legion meeting…
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Swarm trap checking…
6/15/23 On Monday, June 12, our friends in Howard County sent us a text and a video stating that they have seen bee activity at the trap. Linda and I tried not to get too excited thinking that we had been here before without much luck. Well, today we were in Columbia due a PT…
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Much todo about nothing…
The post discusses an incident with bees and a trap, inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. After bringing back a bee swarm and leaving it overnight, the bees disappeared by morning. Lessons learned include waiting longer before moving the trap. The author humorously labels the experience a “comedy of errors.”