Swarming! What's next!!!!

The honeybees in Chanhassen were doing so well, last we checked... the queen was laying in a beautiful pattern, some brood were capped, nectar, pollen and honey were visible too. Then yesterday(June 29), the landowner where we have our colony, called to let us know that something strange had happened. As she was caring for her raspberries, she heard a loud buzzing sound coming from a tree nearby. She went to investigate. Of course, she was not fooled by the bees. They were not supposed to be there hanging in her tree, 8-10 feet up! They belong in their hive! Thank goodness my husband was home.

I came home within the hour and we jumped in the car all geared-up to take a look for ourselves. What a sight!

Many bees had found "refuge" on a tree branch, about 30 yards away from their hive. We knew then the honey bees had swarmed. Swarming is a natural occurrence, necessary for a species to survive. Usually, 30 to 70% of the honeybees and their queen leave the hive to start a new colony. Swarming can be caused by congestion of the brood nest. However in our situation, they had plenty of space to expand. Bees naturally expend their nest upward, not sideways, and absolutely never downward (except in the fall). However, a couple of better experienced beekeepers that we called, told us that for the past few weeks in June, the weather was less than optimal for the bees to forage. They think that the honeybees being much more inside than usual; the colony "felt" crowded, therefore taking the risk to escape to another location. I said "risk" because it is a dangerous move for them. They cannot stay "perched" like that for long. Some honeybees will be sent as look-outs to search high and low for a safe nesting place. In the meantime, they lack protection, they don't feed too much, and worst case scenario, they could loose their queen to a predator. Time is against them.

For us, this swarming "escapade" is no joke! As we are getting late in the season, the reduced colony will have a hard time comes autumn. However, I feel that we have to do whatever is necessary to help them re-build a strong colony...our main goal all along. The surplus honey will come next year for us.

However, in this terrible mishap which was not on my radar because, "If you are a first-year beekeeper, REST ASSURED that a new colony is UNLIKELY to swarm during its first season" we experienced something extraordinary. We observed a queen bee being born, right there under our own eyes.

See the New Virgin Queen emerging from the elongated peanut-shape appendage, and walking along the frame! Beautiful :)

We were told that this is a very rare moment that most beekeepers will never see in their beekeepers' life time. So, Ben and I are very grateful for witnessing this amazing birth. This took place after we had peeked at the tree, and started our inspection of the green colony in Chanhassen. As we were taking out the frames one by one as usual to inspect, I was removing all the "swarm cells" (elongated cells) while Ben was holding the frame for me. Then suddenly, I stopped myself hive tool up in the air, and told Ben that there was something moving in that open cell, and that I wanted to see what was going on. Slowly Ben turned the frame, so we could both take a good look! Then, I realized that a queen was about to get born. I took the frame, and told Ben to get his camera fitted with a special "close-up" lens. And he took beautiful pictures. After our "Paparazzi" moment(!) Ben replaced the frame so very carefully back in the hive. We continued our inspection somewhat excited, but mainly puzzled. We could see that there was still ample room to expand, we noticed capped brood, pollen, larvae, nectar and honey but however no new eggs. This is why the inhabitants of the green hive decided to raise a new virgin queen for their own survival, since the old queen and some fervent supporters were in the process of swarming! This is a great example of Nature at its best. The inspection was over...but what to do now with the swarm hanging in the tree?

After getting advice from 2 reputable beekeepers...We proceeded. We went back home to gather few thing: a step-ladder, a hand saw, a hive body and few frames, and a wooden shelf to use as a make-up lid!

It was then understood : Ben was going to go up the ladder, cut the branch and shake it over a box! I would simply hold the ladder, watch for anything "dangerous!" as if this endeavor was not!!! And encourage the good work. Seriously it was a little bit nerve racking.

Shaking the swarm over a hive body

Then Ben carried the box full of honeybees next to the original colony. To keep most of the bees in the box, we put an old shower curtain on top!

We took the hive third body from the original colony and removed all the bees with a little brush. Finally the box was placed with all 10 frames, on top of the swarm box. We do not have enough equipment so we took a wooden shelve from the garage to make it as a cover for the new colony.

Voila, we were done and happy!.... So we thought!

Midsummer Night's Eve!

A good friend of mine reminded me this morning that tonight will be a special night because:

"Tonight is Midsummer Night's Eve, also called St. John's Eve. St. John is the patron saint of beekeepers. It's a time when the hives are full of honey. The full moon that occurs this month was called the Mead Moon, because honey was fermented to make mead. That's where the word "honeymoon" comes from, because it's also a time for lovers. An old Swedish proverb says, "Midsummer Night is not long but it sets many cradles rocking." Midsummer dew was said to have special healing powers. In Mexico, people decorate wells and fountains with flowers, candles, and paper garlands. They go out at midnight and bathe in the lakes and streams. Midsummer Eve is also known as Herb Evening. Legend says that this is the best night for gathering magical herbs. Supposedly, a special plant flowers only on this night, and the person who picks it can understand the language of the trees. Flowers were placed under a pillow with the hope of important dreams about future lovers."

As a new beekeeper I did not know that St John the Baptist was the Patron Saint of beekeepers...I always viewed him as the patron Saint of French Canadians whom Pope Pius X designated in 1908! Then this new fact intrigued me.

There are many patrons Saint who are "dedicated" to beekeepers, apiarists or the bee; they are celebrated at different time during the year.

Patrons Saint of Bees:

St Ambrose de Milano (337-397) became bishop of Milan, and one of the most influential

ecclesiastical figures of the 4th. century. There is a legend that as an infant, a swarm of bees settled on his face while he lay in his cradle, leaving behind a drop of honey. His father considered this a sign of his future eloquence and honeyed tongue. For this reason, bees and beehives often appear in the saint's symbology. The celebration is November 7 or 11 depending on the documents read. (pictured St Ambrose with the beehive)

Another one is St Modomnoc, an Irish youth who wanted to be a priest. He left his beloved Ireland to study at a monastery in Wales. While a novice, Modomnoc was given charge of the bees and he loved it. He cared for them tenderly, keeping them in straw skeps in a special sheltered corner of the garden, where he planted the kinds of flowers the bees loved best. Many years later, when he returned to his beloved Ireland, a swarm of bees followed his ship. When he landed , Modomnoc set up a church at Bremore, near Balbriggan in Co.Dublin. Here, he established the bees in a pleasant garden similar to the one in Wales. To this day, the place is known as "the Church of the Beekeeper." The celebration is held on February 13 (I'll try to remember that during the frigid cold winter of Minnesota!)

Patrons Saint of Beekeepers and Apiarists:

St Valentine of Rome, yes that St Valentin! Who knew... maybe cupid was too busy!

There is more to St. Valentine than just love. He is the patron saint of epileptics, and, like Julius Caesar, may have suffered from the ' falling sickness' himself. This is why epilepsy was once known as Valentine's sickness. He is also the patron saint of beekeepers, but the connection there is fuzzy, perhaps related to the sweetness of honey and sweet gifts as tokens of love. Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D., but the Roman Catholic Church dropped St. Valentine from the calendar of official, worldwide Catholic feasts in 1969!

St John the Baptist is also known as patron saint of beekeepers. Cousin of Jesus, better known for his baptisms (he baptized Christ, after which he stepped away and told his disciples to follow Jesus.) and preaching a message of repentance to the people of Jerusalem. He lived in the desert which was actually a grazing land, unfit for growing crops but able to sustain the life of hermits and herds. He fasted and prayed. In those days, it was not rare for hermits to seek a life of solitude in the desert. That he ate locusts (grasshoppers, if you prefer) invariably draws a shudder, but this was not uncommon, and is not today, when Arab and African people still dry and save them as protection against famine. Or they may have been carob beans, a common "fruit" used for thousands of years in Mediterranean lands and called by the name of locust. Wild honey, on the other hand, sounds quite delicious.

It is fascinating to read and learn how the honey bee has been revered and loved through time. With all those patrons saint, and the history at stake... I hope my honey bees will be happy, gentile and prolific to show once more that they really have to be "Respected".

Location and Well Being

Nicolas and his father observing the bees

June 16th, 2010. Ben, Nicolas and I visited the colonies in Shakopee, and it was obvious that they were not ready yet to have a third body hive added. Although both beehives looked great, and prolific; the colonies are "behind" in terms of filling up each frame with brood, pollen,honey and nectar. I would say that about half the frames are filled out. I believe the location has to play a significant role in that observation. Even if the field has been planted and few fruit trees have been added, as a whole the land is still relatively bare from a honey bee standpoint. They would have to forage far away to get the pollen and nectar needed to increase their population. If they fly further away, they get tired easily, and die sooner too. They are still drinking and eating what we are giving them, so in theory we still have to feed them because I learned that honey bees would rather eat " real" food from nature than the man made one.

It has been rainy here since the first of June, so the bees don't get out too much then... they hate the rain and being damp. I don't blame them...Who enjoys that kind of weather anyway? Ducks perhaps?

Nicolas contemplated the bees with interest; he even saw one being born! He got a good close-up with the magnifier. In addition, he got the first taste at "our" honey: I took a frame with capped honey and dip my finger into it...I opened his veil and stuck my index in his mouth. " Wow!!! That's very sweet!" What a treat!

We will let them be (no pun intended!) for 10 days, and see what the honey bees will concoct for us next.

Fascinating Observation

It was right before lunch on June 14, 2010 that we visited the Chanhassen colony, thinking that it would be time for a third hive box. And indeed, it was needed; the colony had expanded some more. New bees are being born rapidly, the sunshine helps the process too. So, we took the 10th. frame from the second box, and was placed in the center of the third box,; this encourage the bees to expand, and spread out. We also remove the entrance reducer at the bottom of the hive, so now there is a big space for the bees to come in from foraging but it is also a larger space to defend. However with more bees, there are more foragers and more guards.

In the picture, it is a drone who stayed on my bee-suit the whole time that I was working the hive, at the end I had to remove it, and I placed him on a blade of grass. Maybe he was watching what I was doing!

As you can see, if you look at the bottom of the hive: a large entrance, 3 hive body which are the place where the queen, workers, drone and brood reside with their personal supply of pollen, nectar and honey...basically it's their home. On top of the third box, this is where we put the pollen patty. Next there is an inner cover for protection and 2 smaller boxes called "super". Right now, hidden by the supers are the 2 pails of syrup, and to close it all the cover.

You noticed that the third box has a cork plug unlike box 1 or 2, we will leave the plug until the honey bees are used to their new space and then we will place some frames in the super, replacing the pails. This is where the bees will put their surplus of honey that we will harvest in the fall. The honey that is in the "3-box condo" is strictly reserved for the honey bees. However, if they don't have enough honey in those boxes, we will have to leave the surplus for them as well. The most important thing this season is to build a strong colony that can survive the winter and thrive next spring. Usually, the first year of beekeeping in our region, does not allow us to get any honey...but I have a feeling that we may have a little for us...we will see.

This colony is still doing great, and flowers are abundant. Nature is cooperating. Now if it could stop storming and raining it would be perfect.

Ben is almost as "perfect" as a bee, making sure all frames are respecting the bee space.

Healthy bees walking around.

Only a little bit of pollen patty left.

A regular Simple Visit

At last it was a simple visit with no anxiety. I am proud to report that our three colonies are doing well. They are all progressing nicely; for each the laying pattern is solid and uniform, lots of eggs present, few drones, some pollen and honey.

The weather really impact the honey bees; they are very peculiar in that domain. when it is gray, they don't like it so much and stay closer around their hive. They despise rain, and then don't venture outside. I saw the result of our first week of June which was rather wet, cloudy and humid. They ate ALL the food we gave them last. Everything was empty, the pails dry and the pollen patties devoured! As a consequence, we gave them some more syrup and patties. The other night at my monthly MN Hobby Beekeepers Association meeting, I was reminded that I should feed the bees until they don't take what we give them. I was reassured to hear that honey bees prefer real authentic nectar and pollen rather than the sugary potion and man made patties. I hope their eating habit will ease soon, it's like feeding a teenager!

I think that the hive in Chanhassen is almost ready for a third large hive body, we will check on Monday. I had spotted a couple of mites in the Green colony in Shakopee, so we remove the bottom board, and replace it with a screened bottom board. The idea is that once a mite falls off , it can crawl back on! We will see. Nothing alarming...yet!

On this picture, you can see on top, the whitish delicate wax that covers the honey. Just below it is capped brood, more yellowish. Soon new bees will emerge from those neat cells.

Here, on this one, you can see the little "c"shaped larvae in the center, and on top glisteningis nectar.

Below honey bees at work!

June is Here, and full of Promisses

As Ben and I walked back from the Shakopee apiary along the edge of the field; we saw those wild roses and bees gathering nectar. It gave me hope that our honey bees will do well too!

The purple hive is doing fine, everyone is active collecting pollen, and nectar. We observed the foraging bees with their hind legs full of yellow and orange pollen. The queen is still strong and laying eggs beautifully. She must have been really busy because I did not spot her during the inspection! The frames are filling up rapidly, and are becoming heavy. Ben added about one gallon of sugar syrup, and 1/4 of the pollen patty was left.

The "Challenging" green hive is absolutely gorgeous! The population is enormous since we combined it with the nuc. The frames are very heavy, and harder to lift with our fingers! Which is a good thing. There is some honey, brood and nectar. The honey bees are hard at work in the second box, making wax. This box is about 20% drawn out, therefore we have time before placing the third box.

We also stopped by the Chanhassen colony, the laying pattern is still solid and uniform. The queen is very active, and the whole colony looks fantastic. We are seeing a population explosion, in the past few days. Honey, nectar and brood are present and abundant. However, I did not spot our Italian queen this time, we saw few lazy fat drones with their big eyes, doing what they do best... being bums!!! I may add a third body hive within a week or so, as the honey bees seem to be on a "roll", and very productive.

Ben and I are finally more confident and optimistic in the survival of the Green Shakopee beehive. For a while, we were both very worried that we would lose the entire colony. Seeing them, active and very quiet; letting us work the hive without minding us at all; made us happy. The Italian and Russian honey bees have worked very hard to accept each other, building more combs and foraging. We feel relieved that all our "work", and multiple tries have finally paid off. Maybe our little darlings figured out that all the "fuss" coming from us, was actually to save them...and they are thanking us... their way!