Tassajara bee report

Maidi and I had a relaxing stay at Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center last week.  While there we had some bee encounters.


On a walk, we came across a bee tree.  It was delightful to see a wild hive.

The bee tree

Entrance of the nest

Close-up of the entrance

One afternoon, Maidi, who had been on her way to the baths, told me to come quick to see what had been found.  A colony of bees had made a hive in the wall of the old bathhouse.  Two men were going to take it out.
When I got there, they had already cut away the wall exposing the hive.  There was lots of comb and lots of bees.  They took it out as follows:  They had brood boxes and frames without foundation.  The put two rubber-bands around each frame.  Then, one-by-one, they  cut out rectangular sections of comb, placed them into the frame using the rubber-bands to hold them vertically in place.  Then each frame was placed into the box.  They collected two boxes of frames and some in a nuc, as well!  They left the boxes alone until the next day when all the bees had gone into the new home and they were certain they had the queen.  Then they drove the boxes to the apiary.  I learned that they have only been keeping bees since last year.  They are guided by Alan Hawkins who lives in Chico and teaches beekeeping at Green Gulch Farms, one of San Francisco Zen Center's three sites.
Also, in the corner of the ceiling in the old bath house was a second hive, this one in the open. I recall reading that a swarm will build an external hive if they cannot find a suitable dwelling.  Tropical bees routinely build external hives.  There were about six combs covered with bees and three or four more continuing outside the building under the eaves.
Unfortunately I had neglected to bring the camera.  Here is a picture of a large external hive  in Florida.