Busy week.

Had a call 6 days ago about a small swarm near the Dodge House. Come to find out, very small and most likely lost their queen. Extracted from tailgate of a pickup with a brush and sugar water and sucked up the rest with a bee vacuum setup. Installed small swarm at a local vegetable farm and antique shop property. Did supplement with a decent sized frame of brood, eggs, and uncapped larvae. Will have to see what happens.

Added deep box on another package. Almost all packages have double brood boxes. Took 5 more small honey frames from one of the vineyard hives of which the girls weren't happy and sent a kamakazee bee down my back pocket. Yep, it smarted! 

6-22-14

Checked on vineyard bees, specifically a package of which had to make their own queen the last few weeks. Last time I had checked, no eggs. Today lucked out on this lightly breezy day around 78 degrees.  Found new eggs. Checked other packages and one large established hive.  Will need to add deep brood boxes soon on packages. Added a deep on orchard wild hive last week.

Busy 6-11-14 check

All hives had brood and most had visible eggs. High 70's with light breeze. Main reason checking was to change out any honey frames that were full and check on new packages and wild hive. 

One package at vineyard seems to have lost the queen. Seems they are in route to make their own queen. Did harvest a full honey super of honey from one established hive at vineyard. Other established hive at orchard seemed strong but oddly spaced brood pattern in some frames but not all. Will be watching closely.

6-7-14

Visited all hives today. Checked on viability of all new packages. Good build out on all comb with eggs and larvae. Wild hive and established colonies all doing well.

While leaving Prairie Hawk Vineyards stopped by the Swallow's Nest, Jayna's Country Store & Gardens. Delivered a few jars of our Loess Hills Honey Company, honey for her to sell. Check out the store with a lot of vintage antiques and fresh produce. Yummie!

Current view of wild and one new package area.

My helper for this afternoon.

May 31st additional queen excluder and check-up

Checked on bees this day and found that Parkwood hive queen did indeed start laying eggs! That's a big yeah and relief. Other new package at orchard seemed to be doing well and the workers let their queen out and was able to spot her and take photos. She also was laying a good number of eggs.
Established hive is brimming full of bees. Added excluder and added another honey super. Other photos are from a hike the following day in the Loess Hills in Hitchcock Nature Preserve.

If you look closely you can see the eggs in the cells.

Nice looking queen.

Mr. Dung beetle

Cousin bee.

Snail mail

Looking closely

The Lodge