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My bees flew the coop! At least a big bunch of them did.
I saw some big groups buzzing around the hive and didn't think much of it since they do that sometimes. Then I saw the mass exodus, lots of activity, and this in the tree in the backyard:
I saw which of the two hives they came out of and thought about a plan. A plan with a toddler at home and baby who wants to be constantly held...hmmm.
Since it is staying light later, I could take care of it after DH got home. I called my mom and asked for some advice as well. Of course (
), the kids each had their own meltdowns before bed and I helped DH. That meant I got outside late.
Stupidly, I decided I did not need the smoker and didn't start a fire in it. My plan was to open up the old hive, take a quick peek, saw the branch off the tree and dump the bees back in. Usually the bees just want to get back in the hive and its not too big a deal.
For some reason, my bees make a lot of propolis and like to really cement everything together. I couldn't get the lid off of the hive. No matter, right? No one is home! WRONG. I'm prying away at the lid, lifting the hive off the base, letting it drop back down...and hearing some buzzing. I get the lid off and there are still LOTS of bees in there and they are not so happy about being disturbed (I was in there a little late in the day).
I go and look at the clump again and realize that there is no way I can saw off the branch because they are in a couple of branches and I need another set of hands to keep it from falling on the ground.
I went back to the hive, put a new box on it (to give them more room, maybe that is why they swarmed?), called it a night and went back inside for a glass of wine.
The bees in the tree swarmed off somewhere else. It's been rainy. I'm sure they are dead but what can you do? :huh:
I saw some big groups buzzing around the hive and didn't think much of it since they do that sometimes. Then I saw the mass exodus, lots of activity, and this in the tree in the backyard:
I saw which of the two hives they came out of and thought about a plan. A plan with a toddler at home and baby who wants to be constantly held...hmmm.
Since it is staying light later, I could take care of it after DH got home. I called my mom and asked for some advice as well. Of course (
), the kids each had their own meltdowns before bed and I helped DH. That meant I got outside late.Stupidly, I decided I did not need the smoker and didn't start a fire in it. My plan was to open up the old hive, take a quick peek, saw the branch off the tree and dump the bees back in. Usually the bees just want to get back in the hive and its not too big a deal.
For some reason, my bees make a lot of propolis and like to really cement everything together. I couldn't get the lid off of the hive. No matter, right? No one is home! WRONG. I'm prying away at the lid, lifting the hive off the base, letting it drop back down...and hearing some buzzing. I get the lid off and there are still LOTS of bees in there and they are not so happy about being disturbed (I was in there a little late in the day).
I go and look at the clump again and realize that there is no way I can saw off the branch because they are in a couple of branches and I need another set of hands to keep it from falling on the ground.
I went back to the hive, put a new box on it (to give them more room, maybe that is why they swarmed?), called it a night and went back inside for a glass of wine.
The bees in the tree swarmed off somewhere else. It's been rainy. I'm sure they are dead but what can you do? :huh:
) but PLEASE BEE CAREFUL!
That is bad news for crop pollination. 
Very cool!
last night when I actually got on line & posted this for the first time, DD1 woke up hacking like an old man, so off i went to help her....an hour or so later ,she woumd up vomitting and just kept coughing...I broke out the nebulizer and gave her a breathing treat ment, changed her jammies, gave her meadicine and then slept w/ her in the guest room...once she fell asleep @ 2:15 , DD2 woke up crying her eyes out and dripping in snot...got her cleaned up, and calmedher down then finally went to bed @ 3:30, only to have DD1 say wake up it's morning @ 7:00AM :thud: 
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