Well, I did it! ... Bzzzzz!

[DWSmith]

I haven't had bees for a couple of years now. I tried to get some more last year but my regular bee guy had gotten out of the bee business so I had to wait to mail order some 3# packages of bees this year. It was too late to mail order them last year.

I'm just a bit excited!

[happyhumph]

Photos of hives when set up please - and your first jar of honey when it comes . Bit far to send some of the actual honey though

[DWSmith]

The first year I kept bees we were amazed at the difference between the honey from my little girls and the store bought stuff. Amazingly better! Then I found out that commercial honey is usually heated so it flows through the plumbing pipes faster and it's usually filtered.

The people at work and family members were surprised also.

But I really keep bees more for their work at pollination than for the honey. The honey is just an extra benefit.

[Nicos]

When are you expecting them to arrive?
Do you need to clean out the old hives with disinfectant /steam clean or something before installing the new colony?
All very interesting!

[Rosemary7391]

I love the concept of mail order bees! Sounds exciting

[DWSmith]

I love the concept of mail order bees! Sounds exciting

I like it too but I doubt the Postal Service does although I'm sure it's exciting for them too.

Nicos,

They should be here in late April. I'll just set up the hives after I've cleaned them up a bit. No disinfectant or cleaners. Just scrape loose the old stuff and brush it away.

If my previous bees had been infected with certain contagious diseases the hives would need to be burned.

Bees are excellent housekeepers and will clean their hives out when needed and seal small openings with propolis. They are truly complex and amazing creatures.

[Snoop Puss]

Brilliant. Hours of pleasure to be had, just watching them coming and going.

[DWSmith]

Brilliant. Hours of pleasure to be had, just watching them coming and going.

At times it's definitely better than watching the television. (Wish I had had bees during the presidential campaigning.)

[ancee]

You lucky lucky thing. I would love some. I have leaf cutters and solitary visitors and some mason bees all visiting as well as bumbles and honey bees love them all