>>Over the last  few decades the bees seem to prefer the peach teesf 
or swarming...

I'll keep an eye.  I planted a peach tree two years ago.  In fact, it 
has borne fruit for the first time this year.  If I recall it's the 
variety you mention - Redhaven.

>>Missouri almond tree ( I brought back from California on a flatbed 
bee truck as far as I know the first almond trees to Missouri around 
five years ago).

Stark Brothers from Louisiana, Missouri :)) has been selling self-
pollinating, hardy almond trees for years.  I bought and planted one 
2 years ago.

>>special swarm boxes made from a full depth hive body which is 
screened on the bottom (8 mesh) and a screened (8 mesh) removable lid.

I keep my bee vac and cardboard boxes in the trunk.  The inner box in 
the bee vac set-up has screen sides.  If there is no place to plug in 
the vac, I shake/brush the bees into the screened box.  I have seem 
photos of some giant swarms but the ones I've encountered had 3 lb of 
bees at most.

Waldemar

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