Bee Swarm Takes Up Residency!

I wanted to update the status of the bee swarm that my son found Saturday at his grandma's house.  Since they moved into their hive, they are happy campers.  They are out and about: gathering pollen, drinking water, and checking out us humans in their flight path.

This hive is known as the "North Denver Hive".  It is the original hive for this season.  Surrounded by flowers and bee ponds in Mom's garden, it is doing well.

The second hive "Wash Park", on the other hand, is not thriving as much.  There is a makeshift "umbrella" as this hive is in direct sun most of the day.  The people who had the swarm waited three days before they called for help.  Some of the bees had fallen to the ground, so the group is smaller.  Some bees may have also left.  It is the plight of the beekeeper.  

"East Evans" hive, where the bee swarm my son found now resides.  These silly bees don't use the front door.  

We've decided they must be teenagers, because they are sneaking in the back door....

Today my folks put up a new hive, so they will be ready for the next phone call.  Often when people find a swarm on their property, they contact Denver Bee Club.  Matt and Fern King are the people working with my mom to get her hives filled.  Whenever they are called to pick up a swarm, they contact local apiarists to see if they are ready for newcomers.  


I have yet to see them in action, but I've asked to be notified when the next swarm is delivered so I can be there! 


If you have a chance, check out the Denver Bee Club website.  They have an amazing photo gallery from around the world.  Take a look around while you are there, you will be glad you did. 

   

Postcards From Paradise:

Mom's Urban Wildlife Sanctuary

Bee Swarm

Today my son was mowing his Grandma's yard when he came upon a bee swarm on a low hanging branch of a tree.  I am so thankful to his Guardian Angel and Saint Gobnait (patron saint of beekeepers) for watching over him, he almost drove right into it! 

Luckily, Grandma is an apiarist, and happened to have an empty hive.  Earlier in the year she lost all four hives.  A neighbor continues to use pesticides in his yard, in spite of my mom's pleas to abstain.  The bees bring back the contaminated pollen and it wrecks havoc within the hive.  The bees eventually lose their sense of bearing while out gathering and never find their way back home.  With today's swarm, she is now back up to three hives.  

The boys and my mom donned bee suits and cut the tree branch down, carefully placing the swarm into a box covered with duct tape so the bees couldn't escape from the cracks.  They then took it to the waiting hive on the other side of the property and put the swarm into it's new home.   Not all bees went directly in, Mom had to scoop some strays up and pour them into the hive.  

I can't wait until tomorrow, to check the hive for inhabitants.  I hope they are happy and busy making the beginnings of more honey for our family.  

"The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others." 

~St John Chrysostom~

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This post is linked up to Postcards from Paradise over at 

recuerda mi corazón

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