Crickets!  I have been hitting the phones but have not found any queens for
when I need them.  My regular supplier in California for decades told me
last September when I placed my usual order that they were cutting back due
to the drought and they were already booked into the end of May.  I found a
backup supplier, but they dropped out this spring as they didn't have the
bees to set up the queens.  That's when I started scrambling.  So my bird
in the hand is 50 Italians I was able to eek out with help from a friend
who already had an order with the supplier.  My nucleus customers are
expecting New World Carniolans.  As I said, I've been beating the phones
but am coming up with "booked until June" from Florida to Hawaii.  Some
producers have me on a list if there are cancellations, but I am not
hopeful.  I cancelled my order for the original 200 at the end of May.  By
then I can grow my own.  This may be the year I start grabbing at the
"local, overwintered nucs" brass ring.  Set them up this year and I won't
be reliant on others in spring 2017.

Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!

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