#backyard beehive

[crazycatsiren]

The husband opened the beehive for the first time of this year.

Our girls are doing absolutely fantastically. A second story super has been added to their hive because the first story has been almost completely filled with food and brood.

There are so many bees, we can't even find the queen easily anymore.

[bio-child]

Fresh cut comb 💛

[crazycatsiren]

Me: *puts sugar water out for the bees*

One of my bees: *lands on my arm*

Me: *gets a drop of sugar water on a fingertip for her to drink* "I must be the biggest flower you've ever landed on, pretty little girl."

[crazycatsiren]

The latest hive inspection revealed multiple queen cells that have hatched. So our girls are making (or have already made) a new queen.

It's entirely possible that that swarm in our tree was actually a portion of our bees led by the old queen. The colony has grown large enough to split. This is normal behavior for honey bees. Otherwise, honey bee colonies worldwide would never multiply.

[crazycatsiren]

We have successfully installed a very young new queen into our colony. She is currently highly successful and crazily fruitful. The colony thrives beautifully, and we are adding a 3rd level to the hive very soon. Long live Queen Anne! 🐝

[crazycatsiren]

It was warm enough this afternoon that all the buzz girls were out and foraging. So lovely to see them after all winter! 🐝

[crazycatsiren]

This group of our Queen Elizabeth's daughters seem more on the defensive side. Husband got stung for the first time of this year. Or maybe it's just that it's still early in the year yet.

[crazycatsiren]

*stops raining for a bit*

A few of the buzz girls: *venture out of the hive* Hm, maybe it isn't so bad out after all. *land on wet grass* Nope, screw this, going back inside.