Worldwide Beekeeping
Announcements => Calendar & Events => Topic started by: CpnObvious on April 15, 2014, 11:15:02 am
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I know how excited you all are for me... So I thought I'd share.
**EDIT: This was supposed to accompany a calendar event: 4/26/14**
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So when do you dive back in? packages of bees are starting to arrive in our area
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It did. Look at the calendar in the tool bar.
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NICE!! Had no idea that could be done.. not getting back into bees but linking to the calender this way.
Hope the weather cooperates and everything goes well!
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We are pretty well sorted for Winter weather around here (fingers crossed)
In another week or two the weather should be great for hiving a package
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i got a kick out of this when i saw it on the calendar!!!! we will all be waiting and watching and looking for an update!
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I got my package of bees, only one this time March 29 and they are doing great. They have had a few cold nights since than and a hack lot of rain with 4 more inches forecast for tomorrow, over 8 inches 2 weeks ago and a 1 1/4 last Monday. I sure hope not like last year so much rain he girls could not make any honey being so wet and it is on that path.
Ken
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:'( DELAYED
Due to a week or so of rain the queens have been unable to get jiggy with it... So I'm looking now at the following weekend. (I hope)
Admins: are you able to move my calendar entry to Sunday of the following weekend?
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done jeff, i put a 7 day window on this for the calendar, starting may 4th through the 10th, for you, in case of any other delays.
if there is a problem with the title or the date please let us know! very easily modified to one date!
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I just can't win... Received this today:
"hi
well sorry to say we have another delay ...finally got to talk to mickey at hardaman s he said the weather has been bad and the bees just aren't building up ....kind of like here I guess...so our new tentative date is may 16 th ...he said if things turn around we could get a call a week earlier ...so we will see .
doing all I can on my end"
That's TWO weeks beyond the last delay! I understand it and all... but boy... this is killing me! :sad:
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sorry to hear that jeff, but it happens.
do you want us to change the date on the calendar for ya?..... :D
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I'd love it if you'd update the calendar... Again! In theory it will be that weekend sometime! I know it happens... But it's very frustrating and disheartening.
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done!
it is frustrating and disheartening, hang in there, the bees will be stressing you out soon enough rather than a date on a calendar!......... :D
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Sorry Captain...that happened to me for the final time, last season. My delay extended nearly 6 weeks. The excuse last season was heavy rains in the south. Indeed, that ended up being true. It miffed me so much I decided I can't rely on anyone else but myself and close keeps nearby to provide my bees. That of course, is my personal feelings on the matter. Truth be told, I am fuming with ya. Been there.
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Thanks for the sympathy Blue, I appreciate it. I think by time I thought to look local it was far too late. I hope the packages will still have time to build up strong... And maybe make some honey for me, too. I haven't had time to reach out to any of the well-known old-timers around here, and the few folks that I ran into last year that told me I could call them have not returned my calls... I've always hated relying on other people, but in this case, what can I do? My goal next year is to have 4 hives. Maybe i can split my own or reach out to someone local much sooner. We shall see! Still excited, still haven't given up hope...
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Just want to let you know the first year I started keeping bees I was put on hold 3 times so I know just how you feel. Where I live there is no such thing as being to cold in April so I was dshearted very time they told me another week. When I finally got to pick them up at the end of April and installed them I will have to say was the best year I had for them making honey, even though they could have made more if I had gotten them when promise, so hang in there, they will do good for you.
Ken
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Ah, gotcha. If you catch some swarms, especially the small to medium ones, I would combine them minus the old queen. That will really boost your hive. Both years I bought packages I had to combine them to get any worth out of them. After having a similar delay last year and having to combine them mid-summer and still not seeing any real production, I decided to call it quits on packages. Nucs would be absolutely fantastic. I wish I would have paid the extra $50 my first year for one or two of them. Good luck to ya.
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Being the ever-optimistic fellow that I am, I'm walking the silver lining of my delay cloud. Yes, despite my obvious wisenheimer tendencies, I'm one of, if not THE, most optimistic person I know (which constantly backfires, but I guess I'll never learn).
That being said, it's been mildly depressing that they keep getting delayed, though I'm still looking at the weekend of May 16th. On the up side, this has presented several opportunities and benefits including, but not limited to, the following:
1) It will be warmer here.
2) I've rethought how I want the hives set up and this will give me more time to prepare.
3) I "went into the 'Big City (Boston)'" yesterday and the trees out there are blooming beautifully and flowers are beginning to bloom. I'd imagine that means it'll be happening this way soon. Though, maybe TOO soon. (I'm about an 1 1/2 hours West of Boston and they also get more warmth from the ocean)
4) My available time is always very limited and precious, so this gives me more time, in general to learn and prepare more before their arrival.
5) I've had more time to prepare my hives, which still aren't ready, and I've greatly improved them. Though, I'm also FAMOUS for my procrastination skills and they would've been ready in time even for the bees' original arrival date.
I only posted this to show off my 8) cool 8) optimistic traits. Carry on.
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.............. :D
let us know next spring how optimistic you still are if your hive swarms 9 or 10 times.....(jen)....... :D
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Hey, now! If it weren't for bad luck, some of us would have no luck... At least we're still lucky! ;D
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So, pending any more unforeseen delays, I will be getting my bees this weekend. So I have four more questions, for the moment:
1) we're looking at 80% chance of rain Friday high of 71 low of 56, do I use an easy-up canopy (or not) and install them on Saturday high of 66, or do I wait until Sunday?
2) if I wait until Sunday, where do I put them? Do I bring them inside to keep them out of the weather, put them in the basement which stays fairly cool, or...?
3) once installed I'm supposed to feed them syrup and not play with them for four or so days... How fast should I expect the syrup to be used? Should I check that sooner?
4) what I name them, what's the easiest way to tell each one apart?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
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1. A canopy is a good idea. Even if it's a torrential rain, I don't see any obvious reasons why not.
2. I would just put them in the garage but basement would be fine.
3. You will want to check to see that the queen is released in a few days. I think checking too often can set the bees back. It is hard to tell how much syrup they will need. My bees always went for the real thing before the sugar.
4. By the sound of their buz... ;D
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So, pending any more unforeseen delays, I will be getting my bees this weekend. So I have four more questions, for the moment:
1) we're looking at 80% chance of rain Friday high of 71 low of 56, do I use an easy-up canopy (or not) and install them on Saturday high of 66, or do I wait until Sunday?
2) if I wait until Sunday, where do I put them? Do I bring them inside to keep them out of the weather, put them in the basement which stays fairly cool, or...?
3) once installed I'm supposed to feed them syrup and not play with them for four or so days... How fast should I expect the syrup to be used? Should I check that sooner?
4) what I name them, what's the easiest way to tell each one apart?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
1. A little drizzle wont hurt them, but as Blue said, if its pouring the canopy would be NICE!
2. Either place will work, a light mist of water, or thin syrup preferably depending on how full their feed can is.
3. My "packages" go through a quart of syrup in two days.
4. I number my hives like Perry does. So I know them as #7 and # 18 etc...
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"4) what I name them, what's the easiest way to tell each one apart?"
what, the hives or the bees?....... :D
name, number, or paint the hive bodies different colors.........the bees.....put ear tags on them or you'll never tell them apart...... ;D.............. :D
(sorry couldn't resist!)
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Naming the bees was my concern... Gonna be a LOT of names/faces to remember... One thing I've NEVER been good at.
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Be glad that you have a supplier that is communicating with you. At least you know what the deal is instead of wondering/worrying.
1) we're looking at 80% chance of rain Friday high of 71 low of 56, do I use an easy-up canopy (or not) and install them on Saturday high of 66, or do I wait until Sunday?
2) if I wait until Sunday, where do I put them? Do I bring them inside to keep them out of the weather, put them in the basement which stays fairly cool, or...?
3) once installed I'm supposed to feed them syrup and not play with them for four or so days... How fast should I expect the syrup to be used? Should I check that sooner?
4) what I name them, what's the easiest way to tell each one apart?
- Canopy if you find it necessary. I would just do it in between showers or wait for the next day.
- basement sounds like a safe bet as long as you remove any riders outside of the cage
- If a heavy flow is going on they may ignore the syrup. That said I still put out a 1/2 gallon per hive and see what they do with it. Probably not an issue but I think worth mentioning: I would caution a little bit against overfeeding. Once they have some comb built, you don't want them to store so much liquid that the queen has no place to lay.
- I would suggest the same method my grandfather used with everyone. When addressing a male it is "boy or bub" female "girl or gal". as long as you have no androgynous bees you'll be assured of getting it right :laugh:
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>:( SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! >:( Memorial Day Weekend? The first real camping weekend in New England? The LONG weekend I go away with my kids to start the camping season? Granted, I camp with them every month with Scouts (yes, even in December)...
But it's confirmed... Sunday the 25th is the official pickup date. I've been bustin' my tail trying to get stuff ready and putting off other started projects to get things together for this weekend... and for what???
OK, rant done. My apologies.
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heheh.. NO apology necessary...
All my bees are LATE and my queens were canceled..
Sudden influx of information... Nuc's should be ready this weekend... Packages arriving Thursday.. and the queen guy emailed.. LOTS of cancelations because everyone has dead bees and they really don't think re queening dead bees will help their situation.. do I still want queens???
VSH Gold back on order... now to hold off swarming until they arrive!!!!
MAKE UP YOUR MINDS!!!!! :laugh:
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Ok... GOOD news! I received an email an hour or so ago from the package guy confirming that he will be home with the bees Sunday morning!!!
Questions I have now...
1) he says he's coming back with extra packages because some people order but didn't send in a deposit and he hasn't heard from them. He doesn't want to see them die. Although I could fix up a third hive quite as nice as I have with the first two, I could certainly throw something together real quick, even if I had to swap out some parts down the road. Knowing that they may otherwise be a loss to him, is it wrong to make an offer less than the original package prices, trying to get a deal? I'm paying $105 for each package of Italian bees. The deposit was $50/ea. any idea what his cost would be? Any idea what a reasonable offer would be?
2) 1:1 syrup. I've watch more videos and read more recipes for syrup than I can even begin to count. Is it by weight or volume. At this point I am starting two new hives so I figure I should make a gallon... 2qts each. Sooooooo... 16c fluid~18.5c dry... But if it's by weight that completely changes everything. How many dry cups of sugar do I add to 1 fluid gallon of water?
Thank you!
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95 was the cost of packages here.. Expense of the person hauling them may vary.
For ten bucks I probably wouldn't worry about it, but being cheap I usually try to work a deal for equipment I have built etc ;D So I wouldn't fault you for trying.
Ratio is measured by volume or weight, they equal the same amount. 1 lb of sugar and 1 lb of water makes 1/1 1/2 gallon of water and half gallon of sugar make 1/1
You dont have to be excessively precise. I fill a jug approximately half way with sugar, then fill it with water. As you start stirring in the sugar bubbles will come to the surface and the fluid level will go down. Sugar is dissolved and suspended in the water, so 1/2 gallon of water and a half gallon of sugar do NOT make a full gallon of syrup, but the mix IS 1/1 or somewhere close. The bees wont worry about it if you are off half a cup either way.
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#1 get the extra package, (that's just me) and pay them their asking price irregardless of the idiots who ordered and couldn't bother to send a deposit in.
yeah the bees will die, but these beeks worked to get them there. reasonable offer? do you work for less money? pay him the price of the package.
#2 what scott said, mixing up 1:1, i do the same as scott, not precise, :D fill a jug or whatever container with half with sugar, add hot water, shake,
mix, good to go.
best wishes to ya!
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I got my second top feeder, both inner covers, and the tin for my second outer cover finished last night :) , all i need to make now is my two entrance reducers and an inner block for my screened bottoms... came up with a simple design based on someone warning me that I could be creating a safe haven for wax moths with the way I designed/built my bottom board
The design of one feeder (both are different). I'm not sure i like this one. Despite the way it looks, though, no bees can get out of or around their screened in area:
[img width= height= alt=150000/img_20140519_221744-149949.jpg" border="0]http://postimg.com/thumbs/150000/img_20140519_221744-149949.jpg[/img] (http://postimg.com/image/150000/img_20140519_221744-149949.jpg)
I had 2 1/2 options when putting the tin on this outer cover: Shiny side or newspaper print-side out... and then to paint or not to paint. What do you think? FYI... I'm pretty sure this piece is from the mid-late 80s
[img width= height= alt=150000/img_20140521_213153-149950.jpg" border="0]http://postimg.com/thumbs/150000/img_20140521_213153-149950.jpg[/img] (http://postimg.com/image/150000/img_20140521_213153-149950.jpg)
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Is it wrong that I don't even have the two packages of bees yet and I just spent the past few hours building a whole other hive just in case I end up, somehow, with a third?
Slight exaggeration... I had to repair the 10 frames and put foundation in them, I already had the deep super, and a landing board?
I made the inner cover, top cover (still need to paint then tin it), and a complete landing board?
I have to get all my camping stuff together now, but will be painting everything before bed... I should've been packing!
How can I bee obsessing over this when I haven't really even gotten back into it yet?
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How can I bee obsessing over this when I haven't really even gotten back into it yet?
It gets in your blood somehow. We've all got it to some degree.
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...Sounds pretty normal to me... 8)
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Yep.. Normal. ;D
Nice idea on the feeder. I have about 30 shallows sitting in the shed. Might see if I can convert about..... 30 of them? :o
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"How can I bee obsessing over this when I haven't really even gotten back into it yet?"
uhm.......WE ARE NOT OBSESSED........ :D
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Lazy: Thanks! I was given the feeder in the second pic. I like it, but it gives me two concerns: 1) it looks like a LOT will got to waste (It's not angled and it's HUGE) 2) the bottom is masonite. I'm going to use it, but I worry about leakage. I loosely based mine off of it.
Here's a close-up of the caged pan and the bottom of it (don't judge the materials too much, I made it all from scrap):
[img width= height= alt=151000/caged_pan_combined-150011.jpg" border="0]http://postimg.com/thumbs/151000/caged_pan_combined-150011.jpg[/img] (http://postimg.com/image/151000/caged_pan_combined-150011.jpg)
Here's the close-up of the one I was given:
[img width= height= alt=151000/open_flat-150012.jpg" border="0]http://postimg.com/thumbs/151000/open_flat-150012.jpg[/img] (http://postimg.com/image/151000/open_flat-150012.jpg)
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Cpn, you set your hive up with the front a bit lower than the back, so water will run out, not in. That gives the feeder it's slant. That is the best kind of feeder, imho.
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They're getting loaded onto the trailer in the morning... Will hit MA around 8-9am? on Sunday...
[img width= height= alt=151000/beesreadytoship-150102.jpg" border="0]http://postimg.com/thumbs/151000/beesreadytoship-150102.jpg[/img] (http://postimg.com/image/151000/beesreadytoship-150102.jpg)
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...AND?!?!?!?!?
;D
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Installed both packages, no gear, no smoke, NO STINGS!!! I thought I got stung once in the finger... Teeny tiny splinter from some wood I had moved, lol!
I have NO desire to be filmed... But I posted one at the bottom...
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2Fth_IMG_9545.jpg&hash=ff325d51060e5ba2fa8152308f3048f3b638947f) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc424/CpnObvious/Bees/?action=view¤t=IMG_9545.jpg)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2Fth_IMG_9584.jpg&hash=39609dc1ed3789ea243d9bb8951827f07170fd39) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc424/CpnObvious/Bees/?action=view¤t=IMG_9584.jpg)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2Fth_IMG_9595.jpg&hash=0ba94500858d3a5e09f935a36c0b18b286bf74db) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc424/CpnObvious/Bees/?action=view¤t=IMG_9595.jpg)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Femob1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2Fth_CpnObvious_Install1_052514.jpg&hash=ef44d207fc7e35d3815ec307cf7f389ccdba1a00) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc424/CpnObvious/Bees/?action=view¤t=CpnObvious_Install1_052514.mp4)
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congratulations capn!
no gear, no smoke, no stings??..........no chef unknown visit for you........well, this time!..... :D
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Well done! That wasnt all that hard now was it? The fellow filming whined a bit but you seemed to do well with the installation. ;D
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Well done! That wasnt all that hard now was it? The fellow filming whined a bit but you seemed to do well with the installation. ;D
Thanks!
Not hard at all! Videographer, well, you get what you pay for. Could've been far worse. He was petting the bees on the outside of the packages when we got them. Neither of my kids involved were afraid, which was certainly a good thing. They're both very excited about watching how things go.
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Captain's log: Earth date: 052614 1933 -
Installed 2 packages yesterday. Gave them both 1:1 syrup & a pollen patty.
Installed 1 package today. Gave them syrup & a 70% drawn frame with about 30% honey, scraped the caps. Opened both of yesterday's hives. Hive 1 has barely touched the syrup. Gave them 2 frames 65%+ drawn with about 30% capped honey! scraped caps. Hive 2 has used more syrup, I think. Gave them 1 frame 90% drawn, 35% capped honey, scraped.
Impressed/surprised at how much comb is already being drawn. Didn't look at every frame, but what I did see shocked me.
Hive3 - removing package feed can. One of kids wanted to spray a little when I removed it...
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2FIMG_9645.jpg&hash=a26fe0cbefb4e7765d003e71681ca4a04662faf4) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/CpnObvious/media/Bees/IMG_9645.jpg.html)
Hive3 - Package Thump before the dump
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2FIMG_9646.jpg&hash=9e3c3cff560a83357fafe51ecdcb07e334055469) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/CpnObvious/media/Bees/IMG_9646.jpg.html)
Hive3 - About to put in the last of the frames.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2FIMG_9653.jpg&hash=326564a16b5f66531be25fdebf820bff6ba011f9) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/CpnObvious/media/Bees/IMG_9653.jpg.html)
Hive2 - Comb drawing progress 24 hours after install
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2FIMG_9623.jpg&hash=a5c0785b1b10f689372439c4630f7a973a53ccbd) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/CpnObvious/media/Bees/IMG_9623.jpg.html)
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Looking good!!! I "really" like the idea about making the stands double as frame rests. I'll have to remember that. Glad to see the boys right in there helping! Something they will remember a long time!
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great photos!
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I installed 2 packages this past Sunday and my third on Monday. I'm itching to get back in to check things out today, BUT I prefer to have someone else with me (and my good camera). Those come home on Saturday afternoon. This means that it will be 5/6 days instead of 4/3 days for the first inspection that's normally recommended. This should be ok, correct? I'm ok with sticking my head in today by my lonesome, but I really want my camera. What do you think?
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I wait 7 days. You are fine.
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Finally a nice day... And pollen is coming in!
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2Fth_b8c4b8ae13f8476f2ce8ae4084c51d9c.jpg&hash=ef2658bf753e014a437b32d05dcdbc1dc4b41e9a) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc424/CpnObvious/Bees/?action=view¤t=b8c4b8ae13f8476f2ce8ae4084c51d9c.jpg)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1211.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc424%2FCpnObvious%2FBees%2Fth_f9e9dd178bb9c6c18d0ddd3aee646f51.jpg&hash=18735d36f6c8e8a0247aaf7595a0d9664426f704) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc424/CpnObvious/Bees/?action=view¤t=f9e9dd178bb9c6c18d0ddd3aee646f51.jpg)
Some of these gals are in serious need of landing lessons!
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i like the first picture.....very cool!