Beautiful pictures Tabby...

She sure isn't having any trouble flying! I had to laugh --- she's so cute flying with all that pollen stuck willy nilly on her.

Great photos tabby --- thanks for sharing.

Hi Margaret,
What plant is that? I don't recognize it but the bees sure love it.

Just had a nice cup of tea with honey in it.

That is ragweed. They've been working it like crazy for the last few days here.

We have LOTS of giant ragweed - perhaps that's why there seems to be no bee shortage here. (And to think I had been trying to get rid of the stuff!)

Thirsty

They are loving the crepe myrtle! They were all over it. She's on the left side of the photo.

This is what one of our hives was doing today. I was afraid they were getting ready to swarm but maybe they were just hot. I have four hives and these were the only ones doing this on the one hive. We are newbies so still trying to figure it all out. Opinions as to what they are doing?

Ann lovely picture and I think I spotted her. I have 3 crepe myrtles here and two more I'm hoping to root of purple and white ones.

Pam that looks like what our hives were doing prior to swarm season but since youa re a lot warmer than we are they could be just cooling off.
Is it happening all day or just in the later part of the day?

Mindy, It was happening all day.
We got home today and found a swarm nearby on a sunflower plant so I think that must have been from our hive because there was no longer all the bees hanging out in front of the hive. We were able to catch it since it was so low. I don't understand why they are swarming though. They have plenty of room. The super on their hive was empty.
We are also having a problem with lots of small hive beetles. We have the traps and some beetles getting in the traps but still there are lots of beetles in the hives. Especially in the one that swarmed.

You answered your question when you mentioned the excessive hive beetles in that hive. Bees will leave a hive if it's not a good place for them to be.

Thanks Mindy. Now what to do about them. I have traps but they aren't keeping them in control apparently.

Since the beetles lay their eggs in the cracks of the hive if it was mine I'd burn the whole hive. I'm still looking for a non-pesticide way to deal with them.

Don't think I'm ready to go to that extreme yet. Going to try something else first. Thanks though.

Good luck and let us know how your next try works out.

Pulled another 53 # of honey from one hive and two frames from another.

Poppy with a visitor.

Congratulations on the honey harvest.

Beautiful poppy I'd visit it too.

abhege said:Pulled another 53 # of honey from one hive and two frames from another.

Poppy with a visitor.