darryl - ive appreciated you telling us of your experiences with
combining a swarm with an existing hive.  im even more a novice than
you are, as i havent even attempted to combine hives.  i cant tell where
you are located altho it looks like california.  im in a canyon by big
tujunga canyon in southern ca.  ive got one hive that i started last
year, and i hope to get some honey this year.  *everything* is in bloom
here, and i cant tell what the dominant source is right now.