Great Bubbling Beard of Bees
Here in Portland, we’re having a bit of a heatwave. Now, I know people in Phoenix will scoff at all the drama about 100 degrees, but here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s a big deal. The Washington bees– I assume because it’s so crowded in there– are spending most evenings stuck to the front of their hive. I’m fairly sure this is just a heat thing, and we’re not looking at an impending swarm. For one thing, there are no supercedure cells in the works. For another, there IS actually room in there, assuming Her Highness is willing to climb a few flights of stairs. In any case, I’ve propped open the inner cover and pulled out the bottom panel to the screened bottom boards to let a bit more air flow, and I’ll just let the bees deal with it the best way they know how.
I managed to harvest a nice basket of squash, eggplants, snap peas, green (and yellow… and purple…) beans, some nice pickling and Japanese cukes, and several tomatoes (finally). Mrs. Hayseed then proceeded to take the basket from me, walk over to the neighbors, and bring it back empty.
I hope they enjoy it. I know I would have.
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You have to start eating your veggies right there in your garden. Nice and fresh. That way you make sure that the gardener gets some of his own harvest.
When we lived in TN, it was very hot there as well and some of my hives did the bearding like you describe. I think it is def a heat thing. Once it cooled down, they headed back inside. I still used screened bottom boards and they sometimes hang in a big ball under that as well. I suppose they still feel part of the hive but they gain a little extra space. Anyhow, I think it’s not a worry. Kinda awesome to see too I think