Tuesday, July 14, 2015

THE ART OF CATCHING A SWARM

Since setting up the beehive, we have spent the entire late spring through summer
trying to lure a swarm of bees.

We are prepared!


even Miss Betty is ready to get in on the honey action

at the end of June....I gave up the lure and started trying to order a 
BEE PACKAGE
there were NONE to be found....
I just realized that bees have a season...
this is so they have time to ready a hive to feed the queen through the winter
If you want to order a bee package...name on a list in December for the next spring!!

I don't know how you feel about Facebook (I just do it for my HPO business)
but in this case it saved my day!

A friend who lives in the country posted she had this swarm located near a tank
 and needed it removed
most of the comments were about how to KILL IT!!!

NO! NO! NO!
can you believe Mr. PV canceled his golf game to help me catch it?

He gave me this antique bee smoker for my birthday last year
it still works!



It's really a one man job in a place so tight...
so I offered to document

the bees were so docile and busy building a hive they barely paid him any attention

really all he had to do was cut the very small beginnings of the comb and drop it in a box

making sure to capture the queen, the bees will stay with her...they only have interest in her

we wrap up the box, put it in the car and take it to town!

where our cute hive has been waiting patiently all summer

I added a bit of honey that I had saved from the wild hive at 822 when we first moved here


and Mr. PV...puts the bees in our hive



within a few short minutes...this jar of honey is gone!
(actually sugar water is recommended but this seemed to work)

I think they will like living here...
we do!


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
if you come across bees....please don't kill them...you will be so surprised how many keepers there are around you to come get them and take them away....we need bees!




14 comments:

White Lace and Promises said...

Dumb question but how do you know which is the queen bee? I've never understood this. Maybe I need to google.

Karena said...

I think I've mentioned Gina that my daughter raises bees as well!
How great that your family went to the rescue!!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Stems Soiree

Anonymous said...

wow, the power of social media for sure,, I am so happy you finally got your bees,,
the best news,
I can't believe people still want to kill bees with how drastically their numbers have plummeted,, that is just so sad,,

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

They say timing is everything. Couldn't believe the Mr. was sleeveless in some of those pictures with the bees. They scare me as they always sting me. Even in a crowd of people, they will single me out and...ouch.

Marina in Blue said...

Wonderful Work!

Marina

Marina in Blue said...

Wonderful Work!

Marina

Marina in Blue said...

Wonderful Work!

Marina

Unknown said...

You're a braver soul than I am!! I love the idea of having bees, but don't know if I could do it.

Amber ~ The French Pressed Home said...

Gina, I love you!! I am so excitedly happy about your swarm. I want to put up a hive in our yard too and just watching your hubby at work catching that swarm was pretty awesome. Hubby want one of those tap hives and I do NOT. I want the full blown experience but he keeps telling me that then we'll have to spend money on an extractor, etc. Well we have a friend that has a complete bee extracting set up and I know he'd let us use it. Men can be so complicated sometimes! Sheesh!

handmade by amalia said...

It's a whole world I knew nothing about. Fascinating.
Amalia
xo

Anajá Schmitz said...

Meu deus, que medo, morro de medo de abelhas. Mas elas fazem um belo trabalho e o mel é muito bom.
Bjos tenha uma ótima semana.

Taylor Greenwalt said...

Wow, that was incredible...I love raw honey! I bet you can have it anytime you want...YUM!

Merik King said...

Oh my - how I love that you are going into "bee business". I am looking forward to future entries about your progress. Merik

cindy hattersley design said...

I love bees!! Our lavendar is filled with them! They don't bother you if you don't bother them! I am impressed that you have become a bee keeper...that honey must be incredible!!