Ardvarney Country Lodge Bee and Bee is a fact.

The last month, the Bee & Bee accommodation at Ardvarney Country Lodge was vacant for new Bees to check in.Unfortunately, no wild swarms were interested to build their colony

in the Hive (probably because it was already end of season for swarms).?? ?? I had to close down the hive for wild habitants (Wasps), interested to steal the remains of honey from the hive. This ment that I had to find a Queen bee and some workers.?? A Bee keeper from Sligo (Paul) was willing to split one of his Bee populations and build a new colony for us.

During our visit to Holland in August (our Youngest daughter got married), a fresh new Queen was selected and?? a new colony of bees were transferred to our Hive.????

First thing we did when we came home was visit Paul to see the new addition to our small farm.

The whole swarm was buzzing a welcome,??they were not happy though with the transport from Sligo
to Ardvarney, the Hive was closed and put in the back of the jeep. This all went well, and after an somewhat an thrilling drive (what if they escape…!!!) the hive was brought to the place in the secluded bee garden of Bee and Bee Ardvarney Country Lodge. A lot of zooming and complaining when opening the Hive again, but after a night, they settled down well. The box contains, the broodbox with new happy Bees, a feed-box with fresh sugar solution to feed them and a stunning flower environment around the lodge to explore.On advice of Paul, I got 2 pads of ApiGuard to??preventively fight Varroa (bee mite)

After a week, I can say that the family is in good shape. They are friendly flying around the hive and eating well from the sugar. I expect that the Queen is laying her eggs and that the colony is growing well.?? The bees have not much access to Nectar (sugar feed from the flowers that they use to make honey.)

anymore, as it is end of season, but they do go out to collect pollen.

Honey??bees??collect??pollen??and nectar as food for the entire colony, and as they??do, they pollinate plants. See??the yellow powder/ pollen on the back legs of this bee.

In September and October, the preparations for the winter will start. No honey yet this year. However, for next season we have high expectations. Exciting months to come. Lets keep a close eye on them to see how they manage during fall and winter time.

More to come……Wilfred.

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