Those of you who have been reading along for a while now know that about six months ago I got caught up in one of the annual life-cycle dramas up here. If you missed it, you can check out my post about the Bald-Faced Hornet here. I was really bummed when that hive didn’t make it. (I think a bear got it.)
Shortly after that hive’s demise, I spied another one—right over the chicken coop.
I didn’t tell you guys about it then, because I didn’t want to jinx the ladies.
Well, guess what? THEY MADE IT.
Look at this amazing hive.
I went up the tree and grabbed it after a week of hard freezes up here right after Thanksgiving. (My earlier blog post explains how that was safe and does not interfere with their lifecycle.) I’ve read that new queens will often return to the same tree to start their own colonies when they get going in the spring. Fingers crossed.