My hubby is picked up two packages of bees today - a package consists of 35lbs or so (each package) of frames filled with about 10,000 bees. Last year when he got his first package, they came in a box that he just had to tip into the hive. This year the frames were packed tightly into the box and the bees were hard to get out. They were very agitated. The second box went much more smoothly (after he suited up and taped his sleeves). He was stung several times prior to putting on his space alien beekeeper outfit.
I didn't get many pics once i saw how agitated they were - I retreated to the safety of the house.
Oh my! You husband is a hearty soul! Wonderful composition and POV, Jan. I am amazed you captured what you did. I don't know if I would have come close enough for this shot. What do you do with the bees? Do you raise them for honey?
@pflaume - thanks Lisa - I was very surprised when he started beekeeping - this is his second year of having his own bees. We both work in the corporate world, but are keen gardeners, hikers, and like to do what we can to protect the earth around us. It made sense to get bees - for pollination mostly - the honey will (hopefully) be a side benefit. Many beekeepers who raise just for honey remove it all from the hive and feed the bees sugar water in the winter. My hubby left the honey so they would survive - he wants to build a strong hive before taking much. We did get a few quarts and now have a thing that spins the honey off the frames, so hopefully will have a few gallons this year. We are planning on putting little bottles of honey wrapped prettily for guest gifts at my son and his fiance's wedding in July.
@maggiemae Thanks Maggiemae - he enjoys it - the pollination is his main goal - bees in America are dying off - in large part because of chemical use. Usually the queen goes in a little box with a candy stopper - and placed in the hive. The queen eats from the inside and the other bees from the outside. It takes a few days to release her and by that time they are used to each other. The bees we got today came with a queen (in each box) already laying. More expensive way to buy but the season is so short, he decided it was worth it.
@eyesmile - Thanks Gena. I have some allergies and am going to get tested - if I am allergic to bees, I will make sure I have an epi-pen. They are pretty gentle as a rule - usually if he gets stung it's because one gets in his sleeve and he doesn't realize and crushes it by accident. When they first come they are snarky and when they are going into hibernation. Most of the time when he opens the hive he doesn't wear gloves and doesn't get stung.
@swilde - thanks Sue. I was really worried when they got under his veil - I can only imagine what the neighbors thought when they heard me yelling 'run honey, run'. LOL. He is a very calm person and I think the bees sense that. I am sure they would sting me if I went close - I was maybe 20ft away peeking out from behind a shrub. We have them at the base of a hill where we have left some wild blackberries.
Oh, this is my favorite. Up close and personal. Beekeeping is such a great thing to do for the enviornment and the people I know who do it love it. And the honey jars at the wedding sound wonderful and such a personal gift to give guest.
@sansjuan - thanks Nita. My hubby belongs to a couple of beeclubs and the bigger one in our county has several hundred members ranging from kids to octogenarians, police officers, a pastor, stay at home moms, college students, restaurant workers, you name it. The bees are usually gentle and fascinating to watch. Once they are settled he won't wear gloves - there will be more pics throughout the summer.
@jankoos It is wonderful that your husband has such good company and such a variety of people to keep bees. I know that once they are settled that the bees are pretty easy to work with, but they still sort of scare me. I am looking forward to more pictures.
@jankoos Thanks for responding, Jan! What an interesting hobby - one that benefits all of us indirectly. It is so sad about the health of the honey bees in our country. I did not know that bees raised for honey are basically denied their own honey. :o( What a great idea to prepare jars of honey for your wedding guests. That will be a treat for all, I'm sure!
What a great shot and capture. I have been wanting to get bees for a few years now but have hesitated as my husband is allergic to them . I think it is great that you and your husband are helping the environment in this way...thanks :)
@cazann@paintdipper@kenteroo - thanks for the nice comments about my bee pics. @bristolrose - thanks so much, Kathryn. It's important - and so many people are getting into beekeeping. I am going to get tested for allergies - I have developed allergies over the last decade - some severe and want to be sure. Usually I don't get right up close to the hives when the bees are flying but do work in my garden where they are gathering pollen.
great shot - I have a coupleof friends who bee-keep - it's a fabulous hobby...especially as the poor bees are having such a hard time at the moment with the weather
I've just enjoyed looking at all your photos in this album since I took my break. I missed your gorgeous garden and scenery shots!
I'm worried about the bees in Indiana, usually they are out enjoying my crocuses but I really haven't seen any yet--and crocus-time is well past. I've seen plenty in Chicago though! Yes, honeybees. I'd been thinking about an "initiative" to encourage people to grow bee and butterfly-friendly stuff on their empty balconies, but I may just need to have a hive in Indiana, since that's where the bees...aren't. I look forward to catching up on your other albums in the next couple days!
@sparkle - thanks Juliette - yes - my hubby worked for a beekeeper when he was in college many years ago and has always wanted to go back to it. It was the plight of the bees and lack of pollination that finally pushed him to do it.
@anwan - thanks Anwan! It could be the temperature, too - the bees generally don't fly unless it's 50 degrees F. Definitely encouraging people to planting bee and butterfly gardens is a great idea. They don't do much on our orchard - we have to use mason bees for that. They are more work than I would have thought - but once you are set up it isn't bad. I just take pics as a rule - although last night I helped but some frames together.
Really, it's the mason bees that are pollinating your orchard, not the honey bees? I thought honey bees were the ones being trucked around for pollination. Tell your honey bees to get to work, or you're sending them to a mobile work camp!
@anwan - LOL Anwan! Well, it depends what it is. They don't touch the pears - but they pollinate the apples and cherries. We only have a few fruit trees. They seem to like the ornamental flowering trees and the neighbors dandelions as much as anything. When they are trucked to an orchard and there are hundreds of acres of blooms, they are more likely not to go elsewhere looking for something tastier like our bees seem to!
@bristolrose - thanks so much, Kathryn. It's important - and so many people are getting into beekeeping. I am going to get tested for allergies - I have developed allergies over the last decade - some severe and want to be sure. Usually I don't get right up close to the hives when the bees are flying but do work in my garden where they are gathering pollen.
I'm worried about the bees in Indiana, usually they are out enjoying my crocuses but I really haven't seen any yet--and crocus-time is well past. I've seen plenty in Chicago though! Yes, honeybees. I'd been thinking about an "initiative" to encourage people to grow bee and butterfly-friendly stuff on their empty balconies, but I may just need to have a hive in Indiana, since that's where the bees...aren't. I look forward to catching up on your other albums in the next couple days!