My plan is to use a mob to incite a riot. As far as my plans go, today’s is a good one. But there are a LOT of things that can go wrong. I helped split some hives yesterday. One of those hives had a series of queen cells, with one of the queens justContinueContinue reading “Stockholm’s Bees”
Tag Archives: queen
Stalin with a Southern Accent
Bee suits are meant to be worn standing up. When you are standing up, the veil is held away from your face, and the double layering of the cloth of the suit falls loosely away from your body. Any angry bee with a grudge sting that manages to penetrate the first layer of the clothContinueContinue reading “Stalin with a Southern Accent”
Meet Queen Nohra
A week and a half ago, I responded to a request to remove a hive of honeybees that had set up their apartment inside of someone’s house. Re-homing bees does not always work. Sometimes, the girls decide the new space is too large, or not large enough, or doesn’t smell exactly the way it should….ContinueContinue reading “Meet Queen Nohra”
Love on the Battlefield
The setting of the National Cemetery at the Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the most peaceful ones imaginable. The rolling loess hillside, graves in neat rows, each section terraced to provide a continuity among the gathered dead. Oak trees, expanded to their full canopied width. Magnificent magnolia trees, filled with heady blossoms. AncientContinueContinue reading “Love on the Battlefield”
Pretender to the Throne
She has no claim on this throne, but she went in, nevertheless.2 queens, 2 cages, 3 nurse bees to help out. $37.50 each.Last Saturday, I bought a nucleus hive and two queens from my mentor. (A recent flood had taken out a bunch of his ‘nucs’, and he only had one that he could sellContinueContinue reading “Pretender to the Throne”
The Beverly Carol – a B&B&B
It seems as though working at heights is my go-to job now. Once again, I had a bee removal effort in Vicksburg, where the elevation of the job just gave me pause. The entrance to this hive at the Beverly Carol – a historic home in the downtown area of Vicksburg, was high on theContinueContinue reading “The Beverly Carol – a B&B&B”
Duff Green Removal, Part 2 (Or How I learned to avoid the sting and love the bomb.)
So most of the time, when I get a call to remove bees, it is because the bees have begun to migrate inside the house.Not this time.This was the second hive removal from Duff Green, and the one that I was most worried about. With the first removal, I was able to stand, kneel, sit,ContinueContinue reading “Duff Green Removal, Part 2 (Or How I learned to avoid the sting and love the bomb.)”
Taking, Pried In my Work, with a Stinging Postscript
Back at it.(If you just want to read about me getting stung repeatedly, skip to that part of the story at the bottom of the entry, under follow-up:)I was determined today to remove the eave bracket and get at the honeybees inside. Suited up, grabbed the crowbar, and started crowbarring.The first part of the removalContinueContinue reading “Taking, Pried In my Work, with a Stinging Postscript”
The Flowers Appear on the Earth – Honeybee edition
With bated breath, I opened my hives this weekend. Saturday was a warmer day for us, with temperatures in the mid-60s. I watched the bees come and go from each of the three hives that had survived last summer and fall, and they were carrying loads of pollen into their homes. My girls were busy.SoContinueContinue reading “The Flowers Appear on the Earth – Honeybee edition”
Make no Mistake
This was a terrible idea. After a day, you revisit the site, and vacuum the huge number of bees collecting outside, trying to find their way into the hive using the old entrance. And for whatever reason, the vacuum is more successful than previous days, and you actually get draw through the bucket. Thousands uponContinueContinue reading “Make no Mistake”
Company Bee Blog 