Present: Annie, Thelma, Sherry, Lise, Peter, Oliver, Robert, Erik

The aim of the bee walk was to check on local hives and make adjustments judged in order by the Green Beekeepers (see above), our bee leaders, David and Dan, otherwise occupied.

All Warre hives seemed vigorous and calling for added supers except for Robert’s, having the lower of two supers with very little comb. Robert does not use herbicides. We need to find out what the limitations are on this hive.

Both Annie’s and Peter’s hives received new bottom supers (we should call them subs!) and look strong. Working their hives would be easier with more room, especially with a gang like ours.

Erik’s hive looks good, too, and it is an experiment with additions of supers, literally, on top. We added the fourth level.

The hives at Lise & Dan’s looked strong, too. One sub was added to one, the other left as is. The Kenyan hive of Sherry’s and the one at The Reach are hard to evaluate. Sherry’s bees are making comb on the bias, suggesting the top bars might be made as frames next time. The Reach bees see and build straight.

In both kinds of hives, without queen excluders, it is difficult to know what cells will become brood cells, what remain as capped honey for harvest or winter feeding.

If we are only slightly more knowledgeable than on our June walk, we are certainly more experienced handlers of bees, becoming fairly comfortable surrounded by agitated workers, learning to move slowly but directly in opening hives and adding supers.

We learned that carrying a staple gun is handy for tacking down the quilt box screening; also we are getting fairly good at keeping the smoker fueled and smoking. There may be a larger smoker available. We need more gloves on the scene; and the one person stung indicated that the Benadryl was worse than the sting.

Just about everyone suited up and entered the bee zone. Oliver proved himself adept with the smoker, using grass, moss, even peppermint to cool down the smoke.

Another walk in August, hopefully with our gurus, including Charles Dallman of Alsea.