Checking in with my Honeybees
A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about beekeeper, Guy Hodges, delivering new honeybees to my farm. I explained about the queen cages and how the queens are introduced into the hives. Once the introductions had taken place, the queen cages were removed from the hives. However, I was away on business and couldn't be there to supervise. The person who removed the cages, failed to do something important, and it was soon obvious that we needed to call Guy Hodges back for his expertise to correct the situation. Man-made removable frame hives are designed to be extremely orderly spaces, but all parts have to fit exactly as they were intended, as you will see from these recent photos.
I am sooo fascinated by this process. Thank you for the update.
I still can't seem to wrap my head around how they do what they do. I didn't even know a sugar syrup was used. So amazing! It's really magical, isn't it? And to think way back when people didn't have the same information about bees as we do - they must have been horribly stung!
Posted by: Marie | June 1st, 2009 at 2:02 am
i'm thinking of getting bees next summer, but our next door neighbour is dead scared of bees. how can i calm her down and assure that the bees won't harm people? how much will one hive yield honey? oh, and i'm so waiting for pictures of your peonies!
Posted by: liisamarja | June 1st, 2009 at 3:16 am
Thank you Martha, I LOVE learning about the progress of your bees. I desperately want to keep bees but my husband is allergic to the sting. I wonder how far the honeybee will travel to find good pollen? I thought I saw a honeybee in one of my borders last week....wondered how far he had come???
Posted by: Jayne | June 1st, 2009 at 6:42 am
This a wonderfully fascinating entry. I have long since, been captivated by Honey Bees and am always excited to read and hear about other folks who are as well.
Your words are timely too, as the fate of the Honey Bee is something we should all be conscious and concerned about.
Keep on keepin' on!
Posted by: Lee (a.k.a. Riveted) | June 1st, 2009 at 7:45 am
Your hives are so clean! I kept bees for a few years and miss them and their wonderful honey, but they are quite a bit of work to do a proper job.
Your other commentors are correct in reiterating how important bees are to our existence. They seem to be making progress towards better health stability lately after the past few years of mortality issues.
Posted by: IowaCowgirl | June 1st, 2009 at 8:49 am
This is one of your most interesting entries yet. The bees are amazing little workers. I agree with Lee that posted a comment "the honey bee is something we should all be conscious and concerned about." With the horrible loss of bees due to disease that has been plagueing the hives in recent years, your entry and peoples' comments like Lee's, are so true.
Thanks Martha for sharing this with us.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | June 1st, 2009 at 8:55 am
Hi Martha!
Wondering what it was exactly that the certain someone forgot to do with the hives???
Used to help a friend with his hives and worked many years with someone who kept bees. I have learned some things through them but you always seem to come through with the most informative tid-bits.
I used to be afraid of bees but gardening casts out all fear!
Posted by: tinay | June 1st, 2009 at 9:08 am
Thanks god Guy Hodges was there to help!
Posted by: French furniture | June 1st, 2009 at 9:13 am
I'm amazed at how quickly those bees made all that comb. Really shows they are very happy in your gardens. How often do you extract the honey from the cages? Fascinating entry, keep us posted!
Posted by: Julie | June 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi Martha
I really really love reading about your bees & hives. I think bee keeping is fasinating & I wish I would pursue it. Please keep us updated with the progress of your hives.
Jenn
Posted by: Jenn | June 1st, 2009 at 9:46 am
Is there a lot of buzzing going on,or are they pretty tranquil?
Posted by: Ron Bruno | June 1st, 2009 at 10:35 am
You really captivated me with this blog, Martha and are so right when you say bees are extraordinary creatures. They certainly are and I also agree with what Lee said that we should be conscious and concerned about them. You have put them in a whole new light for me and I appreciate your step by step explanation of what had happened to your hives. I have to say that Guy is quite astonishing with his fearlessness - like he was born to handle bees.
You do so many interesting things and I learn so much from you. It is a pleasure to be one of your followers. Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 1st, 2009 at 10:57 am
Oh, I would so love to have hives in my yard. I'm a docent at a living history village, and I love watching the experts there working with the bees. So fascinating, and such wonderful honey!
For those of us who don't have the opportunity to have our own hives, Haagen Dazs makes a "Honeybee Vanilla" flavored ice cream. It's delicious, and I believe some of the revenue generated by its sale goes to honeybee preservation.
Would love some wonderful new recipes featuring honey, Martha. A show segment, perhaps?
Posted by: Diane | June 1st, 2009 at 11:06 am
Nice pictures! I am working on my articles for this week and will be linking to you on Thursday.
Posted by: Karen | June 1st, 2009 at 11:14 am
Great work & welcome aboard!
JR Rice
Posted by: John R. Rice | June 1st, 2009 at 11:47 am
Hello Martha,
I was wondering what was the exact problem? My dad is also a beekeeper, and we get loads of honey. :3
Thanks
Frida
Posted by: Frida | June 1st, 2009 at 11:58 am
Hi Martha!
Thank you for this very interesting and informative post.
God Bless
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | June 1st, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Well, first of all, I'm REALLY glad that those bees on the burr comb won't be wasted (or die) and will find their way back into the inside of the hive. Gee whiz, it's only been a week since the queen was introduced into the hives and look all the industriousness already! It truly makes us comprehend the adage of 'busy as a bee'! (Really! - no pun is intended.)
I had to chuckle at the fact that you weren't there, Martha, to 'supervise'. In all seriousness, though, you would've known not to space the combs so far apart, which would've alleviated this situation. I always tell my husband (who is new in my life) that I have reasons for doing things certain ways (he just thinks they're idiosynchracies characteristic to me [half giggle] ). Sometimes there are just tried-n-true methods and steps to take that make 'quick work' in a situation, with no messes or repercussions to clean up and deal with afterwards.
It was good that Guy Hodges was readily available to remedy this situation before it progressed too far along to correct without circumstance!
=^..^=
"The home gardener is part scientist, part artist, part philosopher, part plowman. He modifies the climate around his home."--John R Whiting
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | June 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Hi.. this may be a tad off topic but you inspired my mother and I to make a honey bee cake once! She made it from a mold that was the shape of a beehive and made it gluten free for me since I have a problem eating gluten. My mother and I also have matching bee tattoos behind our ears...it really represents my daughter, but I thought you might the part of the story about our cake:) Keep up all the wonderful posts!!
Posted by: Erin Price | June 1st, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Martha, so glad the bee keeping is back to order.
I'm happy you shared this amazing transition with
us. Thanks!
Posted by: martyjean625 | June 1st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Dear Martha,
With the continuing disappearence of wild honey bees it is wonderful to see you preserving these magnificent creatures. People dont realize how important they are for the survival of agriculture, plants and flowers.
Does your beekeeper have any thoughts on the cause of their disappearence?
Regards,
Michael Hampton
Posted by: Michael Hampton | June 1st, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Hi Martha, This sure is a fascinating blog about your honey bees. It's interesting that the bees will form perfect combs or burr combs depending upon the structure of the individual hive. Guy sure does know his business and seems to really care about his work. He doesn't seem to fear them at all. I can only imagine that he has had a few stings! I got stung yesterday by a bee that made it's way into my house along with five others. I don't think they were honey bees. They were bigger and much fuzzier. I also had a large swarm in a cedar tree last summer. I was going to call someone to come and get them, but they all left before I could call. A few came back the next couple of days, but didn't stay. To say the least, bees certainly are extremely fascinating and such great creatures. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 1st, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Martha- You are not alone in bringing a bee keeper. Yet colony collapse disorder is still a terrible blight on our bees. Come see how we're coping with the wild blueberry harvest: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/106617.html
Posted by: Christen Graham | June 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 am
Thanks for sharing! I love showing these pictures to my daughters as something they don't get to see everyday!
Posted by: Samantha | June 2nd, 2009 at 8:02 am
Martha, thank you so much for posting this, it was very interesting and informative. I've always been fascinated by the process and always loved the result! I still have my jadeite beehive honey jar from the Martha by Mail catalog and still love it.
Posted by: Kirk | June 2nd, 2009 at 8:25 am
Hi Martha, Aren't bees particular little creatures? They want their abode just right or by gosh they'll just not stay there! I'm always amazed at their behaviors. Thank you for the update and the info on your bees. I hope you have lots of honey this year. I also have a website for others that are interested in beekeeping, it's not my website, merely one I came across in my forays on the web. It is on the daily green, DIY Backyard Beekeeping: A Guide for Beginners. Just putting it out there for others to check out, interesting reading. Best wishes for a sweet summer!!
Posted by: Frances Jackson | June 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
Martha, I'm interested what you do with all your honey as well as all the vegetables and flowers you grow (both in the greenhouses and in the ground).
Will you be selling any of the products you're producing?! I'd buy some!
A long time admirer,
Joanne in Virginia
Posted by: Joanne | June 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 am
what if anything do you plan to do with the honey?
might i suggest a episode on your show where you make mead?
i believe there is a growing interest in the mead making process
Posted by: axle cruikshank | June 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Fascinating post! The photo images of the process were amazing.
Thanks for sharing,
Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm
Posted by: Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm | June 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Martha, my wife Aprill and I have started a "Don't Mow Your Clover" movement among our friends and neighbors in Charlotte, NC. We have a friend who keeps bees, and he tells us that clover is the main source of pollen for most honey bees. So our backyard looks really funny - with big circles of high clover. But there are lots of blooms, and the bees are everywhere. By the end of June, the blooms will be gone and I can mow. Why don't you start a "Don't Mow Your Clover" movement nationwide from your show?
Posted by: Chuck Jones | June 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Loved your honeybee blog. My husband and I are backyard beekeepers in our 2nd year. Luckily our bees survived our NH winter. My husband also has a bee blog and has many great pictures and video. (He has a video production company) http://nhbees.blogspot.com/
Our apiary is surrounded by an electric fence because of our resident bear. We should be able to take some honey this year. I'm so excite. Have fun with your bees.
Posted by: Gayla in NH | June 4th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Go Uncle Guy, got to love your bee keeping ability, you are totaly crazy! Love Ya!
Posted by: Sheryl | June 9th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Hey!!! That's my uncle the bee-keeper.
Posted by: Joci | June 9th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Guy IS the bee guy
Posted by: Robert Chase | June 22nd, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Nice post. Love hearing about your bees. I am a bee lover myself.
xo,
cristin
Posted by: cristin | July 28th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Thanks for the update on your buzzing bees. Your queen is very regal I might add! I even added a picture of her in my blog article about The Sunflower Project - helping save the bees.
http://simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/2009/07/save-bees-great-sunflower-project.html
xo,
cristin
Posted by: cristin | July 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm