Well, I peered into my hive for the first time today since installation.
I noticed sometime around Saturday that the bees were not mobbing the feeder as they had been previously. My external inspections showed bees going in and out of the hive and always some buzzing about. In fact, yesterday when I was out there, (no protective gear on my daily jaunts to go stare at bees, of course...it's not necessary when I'm just looking :D), one of the bees, attracted by the sun flashing off my wrist watch, flew up and landed on me. I also had on a bright red shirt so they came buzzing over to inspect me. It's kind of cool to have these bugs flying about and know that they are "yours"--as much as an insect can be! Having lived across the road from bee hives in the past, I knew that bees are attracted to bright colors and it's best to just stand still or slowly move away from them--they'll get bored if you don't smell sweet. ;)
Anyway...I zippered up and slipped my net over my hat and pulled my gloves on. Gathering up my hive tool, bee brush, and frame grip (great tool!), I headed out. I decided not to bother firing up the smoker, but to just work around the bees.
I didn't do much other than take the top off and pull each frame at least part way out and looked at the growing expanse of wax. I was fighting "newness" and so forgot to look for the queen. A chunk broke off and I forgot until after I had brought it in (and managed to break it more) that according to Mr. Bush, I could have tied it back onto the frame.
I noticed sometime around Saturday that the bees were not mobbing the feeder as they had been previously. My external inspections showed bees going in and out of the hive and always some buzzing about. In fact, yesterday when I was out there, (no protective gear on my daily jaunts to go stare at bees, of course...it's not necessary when I'm just looking :D), one of the bees, attracted by the sun flashing off my wrist watch, flew up and landed on me. I also had on a bright red shirt so they came buzzing over to inspect me. It's kind of cool to have these bugs flying about and know that they are "yours"--as much as an insect can be! Having lived across the road from bee hives in the past, I knew that bees are attracted to bright colors and it's best to just stand still or slowly move away from them--they'll get bored if you don't smell sweet. ;)
Anyway...I zippered up and slipped my net over my hat and pulled my gloves on. Gathering up my hive tool, bee brush, and frame grip (great tool!), I headed out. I decided not to bother firing up the smoker, but to just work around the bees.
I didn't do much other than take the top off and pull each frame at least part way out and looked at the growing expanse of wax. I was fighting "newness" and so forgot to look for the queen. A chunk broke off and I forgot until after I had brought it in (and managed to break it more) that according to Mr. Bush, I could have tied it back onto the frame.
That is a regular sized soup plate. Most of the frames (five) had that much comb or or more on them. I don't know how much honey they all have in them since I didn't brush the bees off any of the rest of it. It seems to be slightly precarious at this point...
In case you are wondering, those dark spots are mold (I am assuming without tasting it!) Before I freaked out about it, I went and looked up mold in honey comb. Turns out, it isn't really much of a problem since the bees will eventually get it cleaned up--once the number of bees reaches a point where they can keep up with everything. Fascinating stuff...
Oh, and that honey? It tastes good!! It's real light flavored... (It tastes different from the stuff I've been feeding them.)
And one other note...the clover will be blooming all over the place soon! YIPPEE!!
Oh, and that honey? It tastes good!! It's real light flavored... (It tastes different from the stuff I've been feeding them.)
And one other note...the clover will be blooming all over the place soon! YIPPEE!!
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