The weather has been pretty cold and rainy this week again, but since JuJuBee and the newly named Cleopatra have observation windows, I was able to peek in anyway.
That’s the full panorama of JuJu Bee’s workings. On closer inspection, there’s definitely honey being stored away!
Also, out on the front porch, there’s the definite posture of Nasanov fanning going on.
Over on Scratch Farm, Cleopatra has a lot of work going on as well. Her girls had 7 bars built out on Friday and so I popped another one in for good measure.
Even though there was intermittent drizzle happening, the entrances were hopping. Now that they’re pretty set up, I’ve opened two of the front three holes and have popped off the Winter bottom board (well, I took the picture first and then took the bottom board off).
On a neighboring farm, the farmer has asked me to keep a few hives for her as well. Finding bees after package season is a bit of a pain, but I found a nuc in New Haven, CT and dashed over there to grab them on Friday afternoon.
There’s a whole lot going on in there! Because Betty was a close 2nd in the naming poll, I’ve decided that this is Queen Betty. And, unbeknownst to me, I got a pic of her little butt as I was grabbing the shot of the frame.
On the far left side about a third of the way down the frame is Betty Bee’s Beeeeeehind. Doing her job!
On the hour and a half drive between New Haven and Cranston, I had the nervewracking experience of having bees loose in my car. One got out pretty quickly and soon several more followed. It was a bit of a nail biter to be sure, but they hung out on the ceiling, for the most part, and didn’t come see what I was doing….which was definitely for the best.
This is their temporary hive in their new home – woods, and farm fields, oh my!
Coming out to explore a little…
And this is a few hours’ progress on their new home! I’m working on it in the wood shop in the studio where I teach. I’ve got the followers and about 5 bars made (although with no comb guides) and the body. Before I head home tonight, I’ll make a bunch more bars and figure out some kind of comb guide and then I’ll probably put together another set of followers so I can make a second hive body tomorrow (I have the bits for it). I also need to figure out roofing and legs. I have some legs-material at home, but not enough I don’t think. I’m hoping to have at least one complete hive for Friday…and if I have two, then I have two and that will be exciting!
Spring is bursting into summer and I’ve got a lot going on! I’m hoping to find another nuc or two if anyone knows of one in New England!
Sweet Honey in the Rox 
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