Honeybee Swarm on a Chilly June Morning.

The morning started out like any other work day. I got up at 0500, went to the pool, swam 30 laps  and then headed the short distance to work.  I pulled in the drive of the parking lot at work.  It was 45 degrees, quite chilly for a June morning, but the sun was shining. As I turned towards the parking lot, I noticed a patch of brown in a small tree on the landscape.  I wonder if I am scanning subconsciously  for swarms all of the time??  I pulled off onto the grass and walked a few feet to the tree. It is now 0650 and my eyes behold a small oscillating mass of golden, sparkling ( the morning sun was shining directly upon them) honeybees!  It was a swarm!  Not just any swarm, a swarm within reach. All I needed to do was lop off one small branch and place them in my box.  I watched in amazement as one or two scouts broke off the small shining mass and flew off in search of a new home.
As I stood there gaping, my co worker pulled up, rolled down her window, and questioned, "What ya doing?"  I pointed and said, "Honeybees!"  She, knowing I'd not be able to focus on anything but the bees, said, "Are you gonna get them? You should run home and get your stuff, we'll be alright here till you get back."  I issued one, "Are you sure?" She replied, "Yes!"  Thanks Nikki!  That was the only encouragement I needed.

My bee buddy Mary came to be the branch cutter and be the courier to transport this sweet little swarm back to my place.  She also ended up being the photographer, thanks Mary!

The tightly clustered swarm (remember it is 45 degrees!) just about to go into my nuc box. I had already placed some frames of empty comb and honey in there for them. June 8, 0720 AM!

Now how easy was that!  One small branch within easy reach! Wish all swarms were so simple. I transferred these girls into their new hive body later that evening. Found the queen and the bees filled out the five frames nicely.  It will be fun now to watch her start laying and build up brood. 

Booming Brood and Blossoms!

The nucs I have that have 2015 post soltice queens are building up nicely! Some of them have seven to eight frames of brood already with new bees emerging all the time. Around 4:30 on sunny afternoons they seem to have their orientation flights.  They have also been on the Dutch clover, Buckeye tree, Catmint, Dogwood and the Black Locust has just started to bloom here in West Michigan. I have yet to get a picture of them on the Black Locust bloom.

Honeybee alighting on Red Buckeye bloom. May 2016

Red Buckeye Bloom

Honeybee coming on for a landing on Dogwood bloom, May, 2016. I had watched my Dogwood tree bloom and did not see honeybees on it until the  white petals started to brown and then they were all over it for a few days. The flowers within the big white petals had popped open and they were gathering pollen and possibly nectar from the green little mass of flowers you see in the middle.

The honeybees love this Catmint perennial. I love it too as it starts blooming in May, splits well, does well in poor soil and does well with minimal water. Requirements for most plants in my yard!

Honeybee on Dutch Clover.  June, 2016. 

Honeybee on Dutch Clover, early June, 2016.

Honeybee on the Catmint blooms.  Hummingbirds and other pollinators love this also.

Honeybee orientations flights on a warm sunny June afternoon.

Honeybees, don't they just make you want to smile.

Honeybee on Autumn Olive Bloom, a species on the "Invasive list."

Honey bee on Autumn Olive Bloom, May 24, 2016.

Honeybee gathering nectar from Autumn Olive. May, 2016.

I couldn't resist putting this pose in here, Honeybee on Autumn Olive bloom. May, 2016.

Honeybee on Autumn Olive. May 2016. These flowers give off a heavenly aroma in the spring!