Now there are four- and a lot more news

This past Saturday I went to Orland to pick up my bees.  It was hobby day at Olivarez Honey Bees as well as pick-up day, and I looked forward to hearing and meeting Randy Oliver.  I always enjoy his articles in the ABJ and have used the information from his blog to make beekeeping decisions.  Unfortunately, his talk was a demonstration for newbies on how to inspect a hive.  I did get to meet him and express my appreciation for his articles.
OHB used a new kind of plastic box for their packages:

These are probably easier for them to use, but more difficult for the end user.  The door on the side is very difficult to open and the boxes come connected to each other and are hard to separate.  However, the bees are in their new homes, flying about and eating the syrup.  I can tell by the debris in the trays (beneath the screened bottoms) that they are cleaning up the old comb.  I will uncap the queen cage tomorrow and then check again this weekend to make sure the queen has been released.
The bee supplies had filled up my garden shed making it impossible to access what I needed, so I had to build a new shed for the bee equipment.  I finished it earlier this month.

Ready for occupancy

Supplies moved in

Olea's hive stand has rotted and is in danger of imminent collapse.  Yesterday I built a new stand, similar to the others.  Pesach today, so tomorrow I will replace the old one.  Due to poor planning, the new stand is about 2 inches lower than the old, but I am sure the bees and I will adjust, and it will be easier for Olea.

Last, but not least, yesterday a swarm was in the yard.  It clustered high in a tree behind us.

 Can you spot it?

Here is a closer view.  It is a pretty large swarm.  I assumed it was from Olea's hive, but when I looked in the top bar this morning, it still looks full.

In the past, a swarm had come from the west and I thought it came from the apiary down the road.  But now I believe there is a feral colony in the trees behind Paul's house. 

In any case, I set up a nuc with some old comb and lemon grass oil to act as a bait box to capture the swarm.