[AnAmericanMother]

All right! Another beekeeper!

Apiculture alert!

What kind of bees do you keep? Type of hives? About how many supers do you get a year? What are your local main honey source or sources? Troubles with nosema or mites yet?

We just moved and did so in the late spring when our hives were at their most populous. We tried to wait them out but the guy who bought our old house wasn't thrilled with having them around, so with great reluctance we moved them in May, and apparently lost both queens in the move. Tried to re-queen but it was too late in the season and they dwindled and died. I'm in mourning.

But we're going to try again this year. My grandfather in law was a Methodist minister (and U.S. Marshal) by trade, but bees were his first love. I have a great photo of him working his hives - bareheaded and without gloves - with a halo of bees around his head. He didn't get stung . . . much. :-D

[HairOfTheDog]

My grandfather in law was a Methodist minister (and U.S. Marshal) by trade, but bees were his first love.

Beekeepers meet on the thread! - Fascinating! They scare the bejeebers out of me, but I love it when people find things that they love.

[CobaltBlue]

Hi! I started out last year, three hives. One lost the queen so I combined the leftovers with the other two.

I moved them to a friend's property during the dispute with the neighbors and one died.

I still have one that made it through the winter.

Due to the drought, we didn't get much honey, just a couple of gallons, which I gave away to family and friends.

I plan on getting at least one nuc or maybe two this year - it seems like having extra bees is a good idea if you want to have bees these days.

Italians, thinking of trying something different, maybe Carniolans, just to compare.