It's gorgeous today and the bugs were busy foraging so it's a great time to check the hive. I last checked 2 weeks ago. Everything was awesome with Freddie doing what she does and making lots of baby bees.

I needed to check today since cooler weather is making its way to North Florida. It doesn't get cold enough here to hurt the bees or hive, but it does affect how many flowers are blooming. So today I'm checking that they're bringing in nectar. If not, I'll start feeding them again.

They were very busy, coming and going. They love this mild weather as much as I do. It's 75 degrees today and sunny.

I opened 'er up and picked a center frame, the one I guessed Freddie would be on. It felt light. I pulled it and had a look. There's nectar in the brood frame and no eggs. Um, that's not right. I knew immediately that this isn't good. But maybe she's on another frame. I pulled another. It has lots of capped brood on it, but no Freddie and also no eggs. Another frame, a honey and pollen frame, and... no eggs. No eggs anywhere.

I pull another. And... There are queen cells. Crap.

My heart sank. Ladies and gentlemen, Freddie is gone and my hive is again queenless.

I closed it up and immediately came in to email Bee Guru basically asking him WTF IS GOING ON? This is the second queen that has disappeared after a month. I have had my hive for 3 months and have lost 2 queens. I have so many questions. But I am absolutely 100% positive that I did not squish her, and therefore I probably didn't squish her predecessor either.

I can buy yet another queen, but I am upset and I'm thinking more seriously about why this might be happening. Am I a terrible beekeeper? Do they not like my yard? Will I ever be able to keep a queen? I don't know and now I'm just going to sit here and Google things and worry until I hear back from Bee Guru.

Ugh I loved that little queen bee! I guess I shouldn't have named her after a lost musical legend after all. The next queen needs to have a name that represents... immortality. Or something that's difficult to get rid of. Something that once you have it, you have it forever. Like "Glitter". 🐝