Hello from Northern Virginia

[growgreen]

My husband started backyard beekeeping last spring. I've evolved from staying 100 feet away to sticking my face near the hive entrances to see what the bees are returning with. I saw one hive swarm last year. Beautiful sight, but oh, the aftermath: reckless speeding ticket going to pick up my husband at the Metro  :roll:, where he was meeting me because he left work early to come try to recover the swarm. Ladders up in trees, sawing off limbs...he couldn't get the bees back, but in December, my reckless-driving ticket got dismissed  :cheer: ! I used the swarming-bees defense (well, not really, but wouldn't that be great...doing my part to save CCD...isn't that worth a little speed over the limit?)
Anyway, I love the bees, and I'm about to go start some flowers for them.

[Sparky]

Good for you growgreen. If your area is like ours in Maryland the bees can use some extra foraging plants to extend the flow season.

[Cindi]

Growgreen, welcome to our forum, so nice you found us.  What a lovely little story about the swarm thing.  Gone from 100 feet to face in front of the colony, good for you!!!  You have already how deeply those honeybees have got you under their spell, you ain't seen nuthin' yet.  Stick around, we love new members. Have that most wonderfully awesome and beautiful day, great health. Cindi