Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Today we’re doing some much-needed follow-ups at the Kyalami Apiary to see how our recent rescues are settling into their new homes. As every beekeeper knows, a successful removal is only half the battle—the real work is making sure they stay!

The Success Story: The Flower Pot Swarm

First up was the colony we rescued from that garden flower pot on Valley Road (the one with the bamboo sticking out).

• Status: Thriving!
• The Findings: Despite being a small swarm initially, this queen has settled in beautifully. We spotted fresh eggs and healthy brood.
• Positive Signs: Seeing foragers returning with bright baskets of pollen is a fantastic indicator that the colony is growing and the queen is laying. This one is going to be a strong hive soon.

The Lesson Learned: The Jacuzzi Stairs Hive

Next, we checked the box from the jacuzzi stair removal.

• Status: Empty.
• What Happened: I made a rookie mistake and didn’t fit a queen guard to the entrance after the move. Two days after arriving at the apiary, the swarm decided the grass was greener elsewhere and absconded.
• The Plan: It’s a setback, but that’s beekeeping. We’re heading out this Sunday to try and fill this empty box with a new rescue!

The “Slow Burner”: The Dead Palm Swarm

Finally, we checked on the colony from the lightning-struck palm tree.

• Status: Very small and quiet.
• Observation: This swarm is tiny. I didn’t want to over-manipulate the frames and stress them out, so we did a quick “look-see” and left them to it.
• Equipment Note: I’m still using a fixed queen guard on this bottom board, which I need to swap out soon so the drones can get in and out and the colony can function normally once the queen is established.

Moving Forward

Beekeeping is a constant learning curve of “hacks,” tips, and sometimes, tough lessons. We’re still pushing toward our 3 to 300 goal, and every inspection—even the disappointing ones—helps us get better.

---

Want more beekeeping hacks?

I’ve got a series of “Tips & Tricks” videos coming up soon to show you the little things I’ve learned to make removals and maintenance easier. Make sure to Subscribe to the Bee Sanctuary so you don’t miss those!

Beekeeper’s Challenge: What’s your “must-have” trick to prevent a fresh swarm from absconding? Share your secrets in the comments!

Next Up: Sunday removal! Let’s see if we can get that empty jacuzzi box back in action.