Greetings all!
I retired from my business as an artist making cathedral windows in Florida to move back to Oregon and live on the family farm.
We've had a "wild" hive in the eave of our 100+yo farmhouse for around 40 years, and one in the barn wall for at least 5 years. While both were replaced by yellow jackets last year, they were repopulated by honey bees this spring. I have recently been given a langstroth hive. I was told it was empty, but arrived to pick it up and found not only a large colony of ants (it was sitting on the mud, by a garden), but bees as well. The colony was weak largely because I had to move it during the day. My native bees (and yellowjackets) tried to rob it. I restricted the entrance and so far they are doing ok. They seem to have plenty of honey for the winter.
So, I am learning all I can about honey bees. I have met a local bee keeper in the next valley and he has been very helpful.
Regards!
Victor