Spring & Summer is Swarm Season

As you can see these honey bees are very gentle hanging here from a limb. This makes a beekeepers heart happy!

The swarm shown here is in the tree high above this fence. The swarm is in the process of leaving the tree and following their queen to move into the swarm box.

Ready and waiting! Placed on the edge of an area where honey bees have been before making it more likely to bee chosen again. Inside the box  are used frames and the boxes are baited with lemongrass oil and swarm commander.

Whether the swarm call requires a short ladder, tall ladder, or if the beekeeper is lucky, no ladder required, and can work within reach from the ground. Bee confident beekeepers are committed to finding the queen. Once the queen is moved the colony will follow her. (She is their mother)

This swarm decided the newly divided colony would  take residence on this lamp post. We name the queen from each swarm with a name or location clue to help  to recall details at a later point. This queen was named Belle.

This one is a few years ago and such a memorable day!

A bee-u-tiful swarm in a tree with happy young helpers.