enigma expounded:

on that note, is there a way to encourage wild hives to take
up residence? would the wandering new queen be looking for a
particular type of spot?

Got any hollow trees? Actually, you can put up swarm boxes and use
lemon balm rubbed inside to attract swarms in season, usually mid to
late spring. Then have a complete hive ready to put them in. Swarms
are kinda neat, they tend to not sting (that's not an absolute)
because they've engorged themselves wit honey and can't bend to insert
the stinger - also, they have no home to defend, their only concern is
finding a new home for themselves and their all-important queen..

Anyways, become a beekeeper, it's fun, it goes nicely with gardening
and farming, and the honey (which is really the secondary economic use
of honeybees, pollination is the first) is a wonderful byproduct.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
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