Hello apiary enthusiasts!
Our visit to the Carniolans this week was delayed by seemingly constant rain - this May is the wettest on record for the state of Iowa, its 17.48" of rain beating out 1892's longheld record of 15.36".
Nevertheless, during a brief window of non-precipitation, we (Chris, Lauren, Stef, Lance, Nick, and I) managed to get the supers on both hives. Lance served as smoking expert, which - as Barbara wrote - is much more difficult than it seems, and Nick ran into some wild parsnip on the way. Watch out for it when you visit - (it + sun) can cause phytophotodermatitis:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/wildparsnip.html
Chris, Lauren, Stef, and Lance also have some lovely photos of the combs which are now on Facebook, and perhaps could be posted here later (?). The bees are definitely active - but there was still some honeycomb left to pull, so the extra levels seem well-timed for expansion.
Wishing you a summer as productive as the Carniolans'!
- Claire
Source for weather data: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/viewart/20130531/NEWS/305310043/Storms-put-Iowans-saturated-state
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