Last night was “operation new bees.” Everything was ready. The bee yard is wired for bears and the hives clean and ready for the new colony.
Alice was the overseer of the preparations. Wilson checked the hive stands.
Jodi kept my package of bees for a week, while they were introduced to their new monarch and started to settle. We arrived with our hive body to receive the five frames of bees and carefully made the transfer into the box. The move went well and soon we were on the road. I worried about anything interrupting our trip home with thousands of irritated insects in the back of my car.
Transferring the frames
All went well and this morning I was up early to load them up with sugar-water and make sure they were comfortable as the sun warmed their entrance.
The queens this year are marked with blue…so pretty and easy to spot!
Queen in the lower right corner
Therapeutic Misadventures 
How exciting! Alice did a great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was very unhappy to be tied to the tree, such an insult! But she is a sneaky little devil and will chase off after wildlife. Bees are happy!
LikeLike
All good so far, fingers crossed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mark. They seem to be settling in nicely!
LikeLike
“newbees!”Lovely. appropro to absolutely nothing except Alice, my sister gave me lovely card with a picture just like Alice to wish me happy birthday…wonder what she was saying?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Muttering away in Chinese as usual I suspect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the bears find a honey tree!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Allen. With 6 strands of high-tension electric fence I doubt they will try for my hives again!!
LikeLike
Welcome home new queen and entourage! Happy bee keeping!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Laura! Here’s to honey in the fall!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me and the honey in my tea thank you for your stewardship. Earl Grey isn’t the same without its sweet partner!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Susan! Hoping for a small harvest in the fall!!
LikeLike
How exciting. I hope they’ve settled in well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am checking them every chance I get. By now I can just hear them saying, “Oh lord! Here she comes again with that camera!!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! Love the shot of Alice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She wanted to know who this new Queen was and if it meant she was no longer the reigning monarch…Thanks Julie!
LikeLiked by 1 person