We have three bee hives. One survived the winter, the other two needed new bees this spring. The one that survived the winter is strong and busy – too busy. They raised a new queen and split. Half of the hive took off looking for a new home. They got as far as a tree about 40 feet from the hive – and 40 feet in the air. So we watched and we waited – for days. They just hung there.

Finally we decided to attempt the impossible. Chris attached a bucket sprayed with sugar water to a really long pole, I grabbed a rake – and we both “suited up” with gloves, a bee veil and in my case – just about all the clothes I own. The first problem was getting to the tree. It’s up a steep hill, overgrown with berry brambles and wild roses (the only thing those wild roses grow is thorns!). Then we had to fight through vines that were climbing the tree. Once we were on the “up-side” of the tree, Chris could reach the swarm with the bucket. But just holding the bucket in place next to the swarm apparently wasn’t enticing enough. I reached up with the rake, snagged some vines and started pulling – hard enough to make the branch shake and the bees to fall into the bucket – except for the ones that didn’t fall into the bucket. Those took flight, and seemed to most enjoy the flight path around my face. Worse yet – there was no easy escape. For as difficult as it was to fight the hill, the brambles and the vines to get in there – it was even harder to get back out with bees flying around your face – yikes!  Oh, and did I mention while doing all of that I was also trying to film it on my phone. I’d share it with you, but most of what you would see is the ground as I was trying to run away – and the audio (I definitely shouldn’t share that).

In the long run – we had success! We captured about 3/4th of the swarm, poured the bees into a small hive, put the lid on – and sighed a big relief. We weren’t really looking to add a fourth bee hive, so this one will stay in the small hive and hopefully live over the winter. That way, if we have a hive that doesn’t survive ’till next spring – we will have replacement bees ready to move into a full-sized bee hive. Here’s hoping!

Against my better judgment, the bees are ordered; they’ll arrive April 1.  But we can’t have the bees arriving without a place to put them.  Chris leveled out our chosen spot – far enough away from the house, but close enough to keep an eye on them, and adjacent to our blueberries, raspberries and soon to be fruit orchard – just to make sure they get the right idea about what they are expected to pollinate.

Chris learned about a local place, an Amish farm with a woodworking shop, where they make – of all things – beekeeping equipment.  Not only do they make it, but they will build it AND paint it.  Having built more than my fair share of bee hives in the past, this sounded like a fine option.  So, we drove out to Forest Hill Beekeeping Supplies in… of all places… Paradise, PA and loaded the truck.  Yes, that darn truck does come in handy sometimes.

The hives are in place, the extra supers (hive boxes) are stacked in the garage – and I’m tempted to go walk barefoot (even though there is now snow on the ground) – just because I can!  Before the bees get here.