Good for you! I wouldn't cut out comb...risk of killing queen. Open one side of box, top or bottom which ever works best, then set it on top of brood box. If it happens you have to turn upside down the box even better, they move out more quickly but nurse bees would stay for a while tending brood. If the box doesn't cover brood box, you could cover the rest with cardboard. Put a frame feeder into the brood box and feed & feed until they drawn at least one deep super,...if that's what your intentions are? Here we go with two deep. Setting the box over the frames, you can't use the inner cover, that's fine, set the box to one side that you have access to a couple of frames, [move cardboard] to fill your frame feeder and check frames for progress. Make sure you seal up any entrance to the box, they now have access from your main entrance, [bottom board] ..you might need a reducer, especially when traffic is low, helps against robbing.

If you are going the package bee route, Most supply places, at least here in the northeast start taking orders at the beginning of January. If there is a club in your area, you might find a few embers that will offer nucs (an established,usually 5 frame hive) Try to find a club and join. good luck

I am not growing any Monarda so have no preference. I have noticed though that deer generally do not like plants of the Lamiaceae family, many of which have the gray foliage you mention. I don't think the deer consider the color of the plants they eat,either the flower or foliage. A deer's sence of smell is hundreds of times better than ours and when a plant has a noticeanle odor for us it smells overpowering to deer and they leave it alone. Al

my best plant for bees and butterflies --by far-- is the sweet almond verbena it is not a pretty plant but is easily grown and survives droughts or plentiful rainfall mine is about 10 feet tall and maybe 8-10 feet in diameter and does well in sun and slight shade smells like root beer has white flowers that look like butterfly bush flowers bees in particular love this plant....