Hive Check Itch

I haven't been in the beehives since June 21st because of a trip to the Adirondacks (lucky me) and I'm starting to get the "bee hive itch." It's that tingling sensation that maybe some sort of catastrophic occurrence has happened and I'm too late to do anything about it. I usually like to check my hives every 12-14 days because a new queen can be made in 15.5 days. The first chance I will have will be next Monday... 18 days between hive checks. Ack! I'm going to be positively frothing at the mouth come next Monday.

Here comes the good news. The reason I can't get into the hives is because the New Mexico Beekeepers Association is bringing in the Natural Beekeeper and self proclaimed Lazy Beekeeper himself... Michael Bush. You can read more about him at: http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm. For more info on the all day lecture, go to: http://www.nmbeekeepers.org/events/michael-bush-practical-beekeeper-beekeeping-naturally

I'll be working my tush off this weekend and sucking up knowledge like a sponge.

See you there, Jessie

The doctor's in- Hive check

I just checked all the hives today and am laughing every time I come across a pink hole of honey in the midst of yellow honey in the honeycomb. I haven't been proven in my theory, but I think that this pink "nectar" the bees are collecting is the red fluid people fill hummingbird feeders with. Someone at the Fair this weekend was asking me how to keep bees away from her hummingbird feeder. She said the birds couldn't get close to the feeder without getting chased away. I didn't have any good suggestions except for telling her to try and change her point of view because now that she is feeding a different "pollinator" than she expected. Enjoy the bee show!

Anyway, the hives are looking great. I'm a little sad because I'm only going to check the hives one more time in October and then I will close the hives up with a kiss and a wish that they will survive to April. I guess I'm going to have to find another awesome hobby/ obsession to fill my time with. Ice climbing?

I did check on the South Broadway bee trapout and discovered that there was a wrench in the operation. A dead bee was blocking the only way out for the bees. Ack! I suspect it has been a few days since they were able to get out of the hive judging by the collection of dead bees at the base of trap funnel. Easy fix. I used a stick to pull out the dead bee and the rest of the bees came rushing out.

We can't get out!

Jessie, you're my hero! Let's get out of this trap

Also, I found this beautiful green beetle at the entrance to my hive "Japan". Bad idea dude. The bees had discovered the beetle and were stinging at it and trying to pull it away from the hive.