Windy Fields Bee Farm

Some bee keepers import queens from all over...not me...I imported a bee helper from KY! Thanks Alan for the asssistance!

Miller method update: bees built two queen cells, so we set them off so the winning queen doesn't have to compete with an established queen in the parent hive. About 10 days and she will emerge and be laying in 15 days...stay tuned.

Chasing around seeinng the queen - but she is fast. Bet you can't find her!

Dawn and another day of honey bee joy!

It is all the rage to post pouty face pictures - so here I am mimicking the carp's pouty face...

Update on the CC Miller method of developing queens - The bees have built out the little wax triangles I made and inserted. They have stored honey plus eggs and larvae! Moved this "raw material" to an upper box to see if the bees develop queen cells now...stay tuned becuase will be checking Dad's Day weekend!

Pop Quiz: What type of moth is theis? Sorry, wings were flapping fast! About 2 inches long.

The real deal - Sweet yellow clover! plus a field of white foxglove beardtongue with bees all on it!

Swarm wasn't too big but queen is laying a nice healthy pattern - go girls! Go!

This is a "Happy Bee Me" with a backpack full of honeybees moving them to a better location. Swarm box sounds like a buzz saw carrying them out!

"Yellow legs" coming into a swarm box...that means some swarm took up residence and foragers are bringing in protein (pollen - all colors including yellow) to feed baby bees (brood).They were too fast to get a clean picture.

An 1850's process for raising queens...this is step 1. I'll track pictures in another week. Hope the bees remember back that far.