Hive down… Hive down…

I visited my hives today and there as been a sad loss. One colony at Hastinwood apiary has perished from this world.

The outer insulated cover I made was blown off and was found 30 feet away. Meanwhile the hive was blown so it fell into the stand. At this point the lid came off, not sure how, more wind probably and the rain went in the hole in the crown board causing the bees to die from the damp I guess, or just leave. Still had food and fondant, what a shame :-(.

Of the other colonies, one I could not see bees in (but I didn’t go past the crown board), two have started feeding on the fondant the rest are still alive. So I have 8 colonies, unless that one where I could see no bees is gone too.