![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul93wM1uJN8zF_sr8lFC77t7MHXUvaaBOQ90-fQaNw01LiXDco8G11cnz1htSVeWEB2a8KvEQ6MLC35Ek2D_AYiYtCwT0YQMZZRYKqR15ngQ8ycH1Ln_cyG4W8bfXuZ8GhSNH/)
At 6:30 a.m. it was still dark enough under this juniper that I needed a flash to illuminate the swarm. It was also a little chilly. Easy-peasy! I thought.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP05vraytdX7Ien_OzfXCjOSjST-uevTE7nKZOafw3Kx7oRs7nDrOyRiWKQEgeVZ-XN-4GrilOj8R7bp_X2hhb06af-v-TDFDHmKjNUSy4lMexFtDDFwCZkAW8smE2aEIrkmx/s400/tswarm2.jpg)
Now, 18 hours later and after reviewing my video, I think there were really two swarms in this little tree. One by the trunk and one over on the left, by the wall. Weird, huh?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuv0EDQ3dpgZjTy4oN7kXkTt2OXu5jhu4YvH6UmLjDdm744jXRtI8g6kI7IzxDRpsUfDZwQqkcaVkzo42fnVnqGhl4qyTrBIw_W7D0NBvtphzTQ4WN_Jku8oddS4u5QFoMt7V/s400/tswarm3.jpg)
After unsuccessfully shaking the central cluster, I discovered the ones on the left, and I thought the queen had moved up there. I shook that bunch, too. Again, no queen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_vkNO-HaG3kIPdHhI5Az28Qp_tIhPbzHIR37G6P35zKaVJo3psRk_wnv3dTvFnzOxGPHH45vQhBDSYvPt-XBPbG92iTChOyYbZCD3hQUMryh3EJ95W3rc4qP7tU9I7T-fUCA/s400/tswarm4.jpg)
Frustrated, and running out of time, I left the box there, with a warning sign. Then I went to the dentist, because I'm a glutton for punishment.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zLgqZYtQxR7aasH5O9sh_osmFiM9FphGBhyphenhyphen0Hr7TUnx_4z4W0WsSenAi5H167Rls5Qe5msSd1fzNBjNWilaD8ETzm67AYzYFj53zZRgSuVfKxmuN_gdpi4oyAztM90ZP1xiq/s400/tswarm5.jpg)
When I came back a couple hours later, I got that end cluster in the box. But the bees in the middle wanted nothing to do with it. I finally just left them there and took the bees I had home.
Here's a short video of the bees going in the box:
And here's the box being shaken into the hive at home.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44NGp5a24lKo_TMKPKAOE3nA5K-jxsde2AmaNPdQTnZjDDbCTWdChl3GvEWakGiWAvJTi9xjpV0vFc8pvjiDCU1vvT0bhKuQbrJpb8umnCif9kAh0G9Jw0giuPy0uNWhKtKfJ/s400/tswarmhiving.jpg)
Stick around, bees! It's a nice place you've got there.
I got my first bee sting this weekend and felt so, so bad for harming the bee :(
ReplyDeleteI would have felt bad even if I hadn't been a reader of yours but you've increased my bee awareness and concern about bee populations by a million-fold (I am prone to hyperbole).
Thanks, Steph! That's encouraging. I'm sorry you got stung. Sometimes it just happens.
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