So, you know. I thought I'd go sunbathing at the beach, and then afterwards I'd swing by and check on my bee hives in this dreadful heat.In my bikini.
I mean, sure I was wearing an open-front long sleeved shrug and a pair of wrap pants, but the rest of me was exposed skin. I can't decide if doing this displayed pure bravado or a working knowledge of bees...
Either way, I didn't get stung. The photos of me photographing the hive were taken by my mother, who stayed as far away as she could from the hives.
Pansy.
This all took place on Saturday afternoon - the temperature at the hives' location was through the roof and so I got to see, for the first time, the behavior known as "bearding." In high temps the workers will leave the hive and cling to the outside, to help cool the interior. Since they tend to cling to the sides and around the entrance it DOES look like the hive has grown a beard.
I'm sorry - I just realized I had failed to introduce the bees!
Long story short; I decided to start keeping bees as a small but significant contribution to the planet. If you haven't heard about the plight of the honey bee you've been living under a rock. But if you HAVEN'T; basically 2/3rds of our nation's honeybees have disappeared. 90% of the feral colonies have long since died off, and a huge number of kept bees No one really knows what causes CCD, (colony collapse disorder), and everyone has their pet theories, ranging from cell phones to pesticides. So, I'm now keeping bees.
My bees are Italians but after visiting Egypt I decided to name the queens Nefertiti and Nefertari. Enjoy the pictures!
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7 comments:
I think your beekeeping is such a noble endeavor Nessa! After reading your post I am now trying to convince my retired parents (who need a hobby...hee hee) to start keeping bees. Wish me luck!
Jess
Wow, so cool! I've been waiting for a bee post!
I can't believe you keep them right in the patio. Have the boys gotten stung? Are they at all intrigued to get near them?
Ana
This is not good. It makes the colonies look like Abe lincoln and that means they wont stay separate.
Nessa, you rock.I' ve been interested in backyard beekeeping and I'm excited you're blogging about it.What made you decide to go with the hive you did versus others like the top bar?
Semi-long time Nook&Pook reader
Kim - well among other reasons, in my state any hive MUST contain removable frames. This is to help combat diseases by making it very easy for inspectors from the state to check the hive.
But to be frank the super and frame style hive is pervasive - it's all that the big bee magazines carry. So for ease of ordering if nothing else!
I'm fascinated! And learning SO MUCH from your bee keeping posts!
Jennifer
Bees are so cool. I am allergic - not to the must-carry-epinephrine-allergic but mildly allergic, and I LUURRVVE honey, which is totally unfortunate and unfair because this is totally something I would do. If I didn't live in NYC...
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