I love chaotic gardens where things just grow. :) This one looks lovely. 

Thnx!

You are my gardening idol!

- Brenda B

Great shots Mary

I kept bees years ago when I was 'back to the landing' near Joussard Alberta.  I bought used hives (12) from a Peace River Beekeeper, so put up with lots of drone cells and a few mites and other bad things (no foul brood), but I never put a new package of bees onto straight foundation combs as you seem to be doing above.

Now getting into a buzz about retirement projects, and thinking about bees again, I am wondering how it worked. Did the hive thrive?? Much yield? Did you build the frames and install the foundation yourself.

Looks like good fun!

Terry

I got the bees and bee supplies from the Bee Maid store in Spruce Grove. The hive seems to be doing well, but I haven't taken any honey from it. The supers above the queen excluder are still almost unused. They have swarmed a couple of times already--I haven't learned how to prevent that. I've been giving them sugar water in the spring in case they don't have enough honey stored.

I did put together the frames myself because I wanted to use the beeswax frame instead of plastic. The foundation had to be put together from a kit, too.

I just like having them around. I find it hard to go in and disturb their stuff--they seem to have it the way they want it.