Jonny and I opened up our hives yesterday to see what our bees are up to. I can’t give detailed explanations for any of the photos (half the time we don’t understand what we’re looking at) but I thought I would share because the bees are so neat! Monday marked the 11th day since we installed our two packages. We are so impressed with how well these girls are doing!
We haven’t had any trouble with wonky comb, despite the fact that we aren’t using foundation but rather starter strips of either wood or cut comb wax. (I’ve been asked what it means to be going foundationless. Here’s a quick little article that explains. A local beekeeping friend pointed us in this direction and it just made sense to us.)
If you look in the bottom right cells in this photo you can see larvae!
Do you see it? It’s just below the capped cells in this photo. They look like little white “C’s”
Trudy hangs nearby.
I think we’re off to a good start, but I don’t have anything really to base that on since I am at ground zero when it comes to knowledge.
Local friends beware. I am planning to dress you all up in bee jackets when you visit (and take your picture.) Everyone needs to meet our bees!
(photos taken using my 35 mm lens.)
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I found this quote on Father Z’s WDTPRS blog and thought you’d enjoy the quote.
“All of you who stand fast in the Lord are a holy seed, a new colony of bees, the very flower of our ministry and fruit of our toil, my joy and my crown.” – St. Augustine of Hippo
Thanks for sharing an update on your bees! I too am green with envy! I have wanted bees for many years but we just don’t live in a place that I feel would be safe. I did research about urban beekeeping but some of the “real life” stories made me decide to wait until we have more room. I am very happy for you! Please don’t stop writing and showing pictures as I am living vicariously through you! 🙂
Those pictures are blowing my mind.
tell me you are impressed.. because I would back flip if I caught the light and motion and clarity like you did!?!
Bravo!
Now the bees..they are impressive to. Thank you for letting me see them. They seriously get to work…11 days and they have done all this? Man I move into a new home and it takes me longer then eleven days to just find the dishes!
So excited for you and I can’t wait till my bees get here.
T
What great looking comb! Your bees are doing well to produce that much comb and that much brood in eleven days. Congratulations!
Wow! Larvae and capped brood already! Amazing. Get ready to add another box : ))
I’d love to come for a visit…I think. Love the shot with your dog licking her chops! Yum. Do the bees make a lot of noise?
I’m really enjoying hearing about your bees and can’t wait to get some bees of our own someday. We’re going to content ourselves with chicks and ducklings this year, then see about moving in the next year or two so that we can have more land around us and space for things like bees and fruit trees. Spring is such a lovely time to dream and plan.
Amazing…we’ve been wanting to keep bees for ages too…I get such a buzz when I hear that humming sound…you know summer is on the way…all this is really helpful. Thanks for sharing…
Oh wow so cool!! I love being getting a peak at the larvae!
great photos, bet you can’t wait for the honey. My neighbour keeps bees, I love seeing them out I their suits they look so funny. Their honey is amazing though
Looks like Trudy is day dreaming of honey!
Great pictures of the bees! My hubby and FIL have had bees, and separated the queen and also gathered the bees into new hives. It was fascinating. You were brave to get such good pictures! ♥♥♥
So happy to see your bee post tonight, thanks for giving us a peek.
Looking great! Such gorgeous photos! Thanks for pointing out the larvae. I’m fascinated by it all.
I don’t know anything about bees, but I love the pictures and it looks like they are making real progress! I find this all so interesting 🙂
Thankyou Ginny! Loved these. That is some beautiful comb – well done to your girls!
Very cool–always interesting to hear updates on ‘the girls’!
I’m slightly allergic but your photo’s make me wanna do it too! I wonder if the rental landlord will be cool with it… They’re easy to hide?
Thanks for the pics! They are beautiful. We loved the children’s books on bees from the library. One of them was The Life and Times of the Honeybee.
Fun! And thanks for answering what foundationless meant! 🙂
OH! I love reading about your bees! My grandpa had bees when we were little, and all I remember is chewing the wax covered in honey every once in awhile- great memories! Like you guys, I don’t think he really had an idea ‘how’ to keep bees, but it was still neat to know they were there!
I am still so green with envy. C and my husband are both afraid of bees so it’s been a tough sell. I am hoping once we move I can convince them, though.
p.s. so glad you mentioned which lens you used! I got a little photography job and plan on buying a new lens with the first check but I need to decide what to have besides my 50mm 1:4.
Any suggestions? I miss chatting with you, I wish life wasn’t so darn crazy sometimes (although I do love the craziness, I just wish I could find more time!)