The Apiary is in at the Arthouse

The hives of Queenie and Sweetie (long live the queen bees of the Arthouse Apiary!)

It has been a chilly, wet spring up north for sure, but at long last it was time for getting the new hives set up.

This year, I received bee packages from the Red River Valley Beekeepers group and needed to keep the lil gals in the Arthouse gazebo to protect them from the cold and rain before getting them established with better bottom boards that will hopefully help these hives get thru the winter.

The gazebo (gabeezo?) had turned into a bit of a battledome, so it was great to finally have a 50 degree day to get them established.

Early on, I was somewhat certain one of the queens (Queenie) did not make it as I found a dead bee in the queen cage after a quick inspection last week. I was ready to combine the two hives based on some guidance received from the beekeeper group, but upon further inspection when I was able to fully investigate the hives yesterday, the bee in the cage was a worker bee. I wasn’t able to find the queen, but will check again in a week when the bees are more settled.

I did spend some time today watching the hives, which is one of my favorite meditations on a sunny day. Some of the bees were already showing up with what I affectionately call “pollen pants”. I don’t know where they are finding the stores, as the tulips have yet to bloom, but I am gratified to see their industriousness at work already.

Ms. Anna Lee and her bees!