New Bee-ginnings, Michigan Honeybee Nucs, May 2, 2016

       It has been a while since my last post due to the fact there wasn't much to say as the remaining two hives I had in February, were both dead in March.  I found the queens in each and one even had eggs,  open larva, and capped brood.  They were giving it all they could, but there were too few bees to maintain the warmth they needed.
      Of course, I must begin again.  I knew I wanted nucs that had overwintered in MI.  Thanks to a wonderful  network of other beekeepers I was able to find MI bees that had successfully made it through the winter. These nucs have queens that were mated last July so I was able to receive them sooner than most MI nucs are available.  I brought the first two home last night.  I set them on top of the hive box that they will be going into and opened their entrances, giving them a chance to fly and orient to their new spot before installing them into the hive boxes. I can't wait to give them my extracted honey frames for them to lick clean and full frames of honey!

Incoming bees, the stick is there holding the entrance open on the nuc box. I set the nuc box on top of the hive box they will be going into, allowing them to orientate to their new spot.

Two nucs with bees adjusting to their new location.  After a day or so I will transfer the frames into the hive bodies.

Honeybees at entrance of the nuc.  The stick is there to prop up the opening. 

Red Bud starting to bloom. Other beekeepers have told me the bees do work the Red Bud.

NOT a honeybee, a native bee on the Red Bud bloom. I am not sure of the bees proper name.