CP3S said:

The bees I work with keep swarming on us. We've had to go recapture two different hives two weeks ago. Both times it was during extreme rapid weather changes. They have plenty of room in the hives and we haven't found any queen cells, so it is puzzling.

Interesting alright.  I forgot where you live (you may be too far north for this) but are Small Hive Beetles an issue?  It's not likely the colony would leave if there weren't enough of them to ruin the hive, but perhaps they're being bothered.  Varroa mites could be a cause as well, and much harder to see. That said, if you have your West traps filled and clean, you should be ok.

Even more interesting is that you haven't found any queen cells.  The time of year is right, but no queen cells makes it seem like these aren't planned events.  More of a reaction to something.  Keep us posted.  I'll ask at my next beekeepers meeting (May).

Anchorhead said:

I'll ask at my next beekeepers meeting (May).

That reminds me of an oft-repeated saying...

CP3S said:

?

Of course he was serious.

Sorry, it's just that for whatever reason my mind thought of that scene in BSG. Where that guy said "Maybe it's because, I'm a Cylon and I haven't seen you at any of the meetings." Which was obviously a sarcastic quip to the situation in question. . . So, yeah I wasn't sure... Sarcasm and lack thereof is hard to tell over the internet!

You live in TN, CP3S?  I just moved from Tennessee.  What part do you live in?

Candle light, the chink of glasses, a romantic meal and before you know it the Gaffer Tape is off and everyone has stretch marks.

Gaffer can't actually get pregnant...

 

Oh, I see what you did there.

Yes Twister, I'm a member of two beekeeping associations and once a month we meet and discuss the goings on in the beekeeping community.

Knoxville: Man, there is some really nice riding out there. Beautiful area and some great mountain roads.  

No doubt about it CP, meeting Gaffer would be a pretty big feather in your cap around here.

Big furry bumble bee came into the Great Hall of the Chateau yesterday and perched herself on the seat of one of our arm chairs.

She cleaned herself giving every appearance of being comfortably seated for some minutes.

Floated around the display cabinets, had a look at the Yellow Submarine figures, noticed the remote control Daleks and departed in haste.

Bingowings said:

... had a look at the Yellow Submarine figures

When I get home tonight and can access Photobucket, I'll revisit this statement.

Cool on the bumblebee encounter.  They're pretty fascinating.

Anchorhead said:

Bingowings said:

... had a look at the Yellow Submarine figures

When I get home tonight and can access Photobucket, I'll revisit this statement.

Cool on the bumblebee encounter.  They're pretty fascinating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na7WqSb6sY0&t=27s

Anchorhead said:

Bingowings said:

... had a look at the Yellow Submarine figures

When I get home tonight and can access Photobucket, I'll revisit this statement.

Here's that revisit;

Bingo's figures - meet Anchor's living room;

It's an original three-sheet that I've had since 1979.  One of the very few things to survive the flood I experienced in 1994.  It was out being museum-mounted along with an original Let It Be one-sheet.  Needless to say, I'm a big fan.

Are those figures something collectable?  I've never searched for anything like that.

CP3S said:

I just moved here not to long ago. I think we've had this discussion before, right? You were near Nashville, and I am near Knox. Not that far really. We should have made it a point to meet up. Having met the lovely Gaffer Tape in real life would be some serious bragging rights on this site.

Any chance you'll be visiting the area in the future? You should move to Knoxville. I desperately need a room mate. :D

 

Okay, let me try this again.  Ahem...

Damn!  When did we have this discussion?  When did you move to Tennessee?  I've only been through Knoxville once, and that was when my girlfriend and I were on the way to camping in Gatlingburg.  I'd hate to think you'd moved there while I was living there, and we never got to hang out.  Sadly, I don't see myself visiting that area anytime soon.  The life of a lingerie clerk is not a well-paying one, and since my prospective job at the second largest theatre in the eastern U.S. fell through after two interviews, I can't really afford to make a trip to TN right now.

I used to live in Knoxville, and my mom still does. That may be where the confusion lies.

Here come the mom jokes...

Hmm.  I don't think I was part of that thread.  I moved back to Nashville at the end of April 2011, and my inconsistent Internet led to my posting habits here being somewhat diminished until a couple of months ago.  So it seems like you moved there just a few months before I left since I left in January.  Still a shame.  I has a sad...

It's just really cold up here for some reason.

It's not even wet like it has been down south (which is a blessing for me because I can get my planting in but the tomato plants or all dying.

The bees are still coming though.

Had them around the lavender I planted recently and they love the herb patch.

The Swedes against the Evil Empire.

Bingo,

Have you ever considered getting a hive?  You clearly have a knack for gardening and you dig bees.  Why not become a beekeeper?  There's a mild initial cost and some weekly tending until the colony is strong. 

After that, it's not labor intense or terribly troublesome.  The girls know what to do.  You could probably harvest a gallon or so of honey after a year.  Maybe sooner depending on the blooming in your area.

From the sound of things, you have the real estate for it.  Even if you didn't, it really only takes as much room as the hive occupies.  They'll travel to the pollen and nectar sources.  Plenty of people have roof-top hives or balcony hives.  Just make sure they have a steady source of water and they'll be fine.