Well, I managed to miss recording a peek at the bees about a month ago. Which means I seem to be looking monthly & that may be just a bit too far between visits during the summer period. However, Karen & I looked at all three Kenyan hives this time round (hers, mine, Reach Center). They're all different.

Karen's was first. Her well behaved & active hive is laying comb nicely aligned with the top bars. I am envious. We saw several outer bars of honey comb, then drones, then brood comb. The bees were calm while we looked. The top bars were stuck together with the reddish propolis, but not badly. The comb was clean and regular. We saw some drones, but didn't spot the queen. But everyone looks busy and healthy. There is some gray frass-like material in the bottom of the hive. We didn't know what to make of that. Karen added six top bars as the blackberries are just beginning to flower. Karen's box lies east/west. Got my first sting here. I'm working with veil, but no gloves as I want to learn to be gentle. I must have put a finger right on a bee when replacing a bar. Took antihistamine right away & the swelling & itching was minimal.

My hive looks active, but remains hard to examine as the comb is diagonal. I am looking forward to having a local expert give me advice soon. There was a small swarm in the neighbor's yard last week. It may have come from one of our hives. I added several top bars as they were approaching the divider & may try to add a bee transparent wall & then add wax painted bars behind it to see if they will start to build in the direction of the combs. My hive was lying diagonally at NW/SE.

Reach Center: very interesting. This hive lies north/south. The bees are following the bars, but overlapping, so prying them apart is challenging. So distracting & slow that I can't remember well what I actually saw, other than active bees, honey at the top of the comb & brood below. No queen apparent & they were nearly out of room. I added at least four top bars.

There was a huge swarm clinging to a branch in the sweet gum very nearby. Lise & I captured it and put it in a spare box at Lise & Dan's. I may not have gotten the queen in the hive however. I noticed a group on the fence and next morning all the bees in the hive were CRAWLING in a broad group over to the fence. They disappeared. It was so strong a swarm it was a shame to lose it. We have much to learn.