Bees!

B.'s bees arrived yesterday.  A couple of weeks earlier than we expected, so the bee enclosure isn't completely finished, but the hive is done.  That's a good thing because bees don't wait and when they arrive you have to do something with them right away.  Or so I'm told.

This is the package of bees.  Three pounds worth.  And yes, it's inside my house in this picture.

B. starting to put the bees into the hive. 

I asked how you get the bees out of the package box and into the hive and B. told me you just dump them in.  Watching him do it, it's more like shaking them in.  The don't just fall out.  I'm particularly amused by the faces of the audience in this picture.

Here's the package with most of the bees dumped out.  B. used his gloved hand to scoop the rest onto the hive entrance.  The bees are still alive today, based on the bees circling around the hive to orient themselves.  B. is a little concerned about the queen, but has no way to check on her currently.  I hope she is fine... though you can order new queens if necessary.

And a picture of L. (on left, before her hair was fixed) and G. as a reward for looking at the insect pictures.