Petaluma & San Queens-July 23

Been meaning to do this for a week, but had to fly out to the East Coast the next day for family. And then things were all hectic out there, internet and otherwise.

I'm pretty sure the weather was what it has been pretty steady--in the low 70º's, low wind. In the afternoon I geared up and opened Petaluma--we are all still a little gun shy of her after I took out all kinds of crazy comb and they got all protective, followed anybody who came into the back yard around until they left, stung Rachel twice in one day. They have really calmed down, but the others are nervous and she's definitely in the wrong place--central to the garden, and the bees' flight path out of the hive are just about eye-level to a six-year-old; I am building a bamboo screen around it this weekend to see if I can vault them up higher. Anyway, I geared up and opened her with smoke. The crazy comb was pretty under control. what was interesting was that they seem to be building hard to the left of the hive, beginning honey in the far left frame even while there were 2 open frames on the right side. Other than that, she had room, but there was open brood, good laying patterns, interestingly nearly all in the free-form bumpy frame in the middle of the brood box.

Then I went into San Queens, who continues to be my star. She looked great and I put another super on her. I hadn't expected her to be so full so I had to build it fast. It's unpainted and they got all unbuilt up frames. I'll be curious to see what they do with it.

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