Three days after installing that package at my friends' place, I went back to release the queen. Her cage was completely covered with workers who were keeping her warm and fed.

My friends retrieved the empty cage later and now report that 10 combs have been built out and all appears well, so that's a relief.
Meanwhile, our own hive swarmed (!) while I was at work. The swarm landed 20 feet up in a tree and disappeared later that day. But the bees that remain appear abundant and calm, so I have to assume they've managed to produce a new queen. I'll try to do an inspection next week just to make sure. And perhaps harvest some honey, too.
I received three swarm calls otherwise (two from a local garden center), which I passed along to others. I just didn't have the time to get them.

Our poppies have self-seeded in random parts of the yard and are also happily blooming. The bees adore them, even after the petals fall off.

Poppy honey sounds like the sweets of Lethe indeed. Better than allium honey, perhaps.
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