I'd hoped for the last two years that I'd be able to pick up a neighborhood swarm and feel pretty sure that I had at least some descendants from Stella's bees. That didn't work out and I finally decided to just start over. Of course, now that I've gone to all this trouble and expense, I'll probably find a swarm next week.
I've never installed a package of bees before. I've had lots of experience handling bees in general and am comfortable working with nucs (a small box of established bees with a queen), but dealing with a queen in a cage in a package of bees she doesn't know was a little daunting.
I wanted a particular strain (Buckfast) bees though and a package was my only option. That's okay. Stella and I loved learning new things about beekeeping. She'd have enjoyed the whole day, from going to pick them up to getting them settled. She'd especially have liked the new inside feeder I'm using.
While a friend and I were waiting for the stragglers to move from the package into the hive box, we were able to watch some of the bees start to fan and talk to each other and then saw some take orientation flights circling over the hive box. A few even started exploring whatever these flowers are.
By nightfall, all but a few were tucked into the box and I was able to pick up the last 10 or so and deposit them at the entrance. Hopefully they'll be happy here. They've had a long couple of days I'd guess being packaged up and moved. I promised them that tomorrow will be a better day.
