Bees...Or A Crappy Spring

We thought the Girls were going to do okay when we popped the box open in April.  We didn't get back in there until the beginning of June. 

We thought we were going to need to put another super on because we had seen the Girls swarm a couple of times.  Turns out, they weren't swarming because they didn't have enough room.  I don't know enough to know why they were swarming but I do know they didn't leave us with a queen. There were no larvae and we had a ton of drones instead. 

Ken and I went and collected a swarm and dumped them in.  Not sure yet how they are going to do but it can't be any worse than getting in there and not finding any larvae!  So, with our new Girls, here's hoping!

Paddler Down

From Peace Dragon Warriors:

On June 9, 2011, while riding her new Harley (motorcycle) to practice, wearing her team colors (purple and orange) and with a bright orange paddle bag slung over her back, one of our paddlers, our beloved Jackie Lee Bell, was hit by a pickup, the driver of which ran a red light. Jackie’s now had her left leg amputated above the knee due to the horrific damage sustained in the accident. We know that no matter how badly we miss our Jackie on the boat, it can’t begin to touch how badly she misses her leg. Jackie and her fiancé, Doug (also a paddler) were planning to be married at the Portland races on September 10, 2011. That’s still going to happen, and we expect her back on the boat for next season, but it’s a long, hard road she and Doug are facing, even with the love, support and impressive skills of her Salem paddling family.

We are reaching out to the greater dragon boating community/family for help. A support fund has been established in Jackie Lee Bell’s name through West Coast Bank – donations can be made at any West Coast Bank branch. We will be hosting several benefit events over the next weeks and months, including a humble donation box at the Peace Dragon Warriors Paddling Club tent at the World Beat Races in Salem and the subsequent races in Kent, Washington, and Portland.

Any help you can give –

Weisha

Peace Dragon Warriors Paddling Club –

Peace Warrior Women

Pax Bellatoris (mixed)