So, We Are Still Learning!

So, despondent about our bee loss, I called the Carolina Bee Company   to try to see what we may have done wrong and if our depleted hive stood a chance at survival, and were given some awesome advice ... and learned something we didn't know.

It seems that, when you have 2 new hives (or more) close together, that one Queen may give off stronger pheromones than the other, and that bees from the other Queen may just decide to migrate to her hive rather than stay in their own. Apparently, it's called "drifting". Hmmm, who knew! We hadn't had that problem last year as we only had the one hive.

The remedy, since neither Queen is yet free of her "box", is simply to steal a frame or two, from the now overloaded one, and then seal the "weaker" hive for 3 days so that the bees cannot come out of that hive, and they - apparently - will bond with the Queen in there and strengthen that hive.

So that's what Mark did.

When he opened the tops of both hives you could immediately see that - yes - the one was definitely overloaded, as you can see in this pic and the other had no frame activity going on, as you can see in the pair together, in the pic below. 

Mark suited up since the stronger hive was the aggressive one on Saturday, with the bees that actually chased him! Today, though, they were actually quite docile and well behaved so he really needn't have bothered. We're just glad that the man at the Carolina Bee Company was able to help us remedy what had been a very distressing situation for us.

Mark also planted my one Calla Lily down by the creek near the one that is already there, and we have Gladioli bulbs that we're going to put between, and either side of them, to add some colour (and bee food) down there.

I ordered 2 wild bee houses to put up near the house, so that the Carpenter Bees, bumble bees and wild bees all have places to stay as well. I could probably have made them myself but easier, and possibly even cheaper, to buy.

I guess, soon, I'll have to look for some gourd bird houses too.

I love how things are coming together over there.

At home, this morning, the great grand-puppy was ill with diarrhoea so I had to dose him up with some Probios and a pill from the vet. He has a very sensitive stomach so I'm so careful with his food but apparently, last night, his mama gave him some pork off her plate ...poor baby paid dearly for his treat but is ok tonight and much happier for feeling better.