I get teased a little for taking so many photos of our beehives. “Here are my beehives on Monday, and here they are on Tuesday when the sun was shining. And wait, here’s another from Wednesday when it was cloudy out.” I can’t really help it. The bees make me happy. Bees that are still alive after a long winter make me really happy. Sadly the little swarm that we tried to overwinter in the hen house died just a few weeks ago. But considering that all of our bees died our first year keeping bees, we are thrilled to be heading into spring with two living overwintered hives. We opened the hives up on Monday to take our first real peek inside since last fall. The Candleford bees (brown hive) were happy as can be and appeared to have plenty to eat. We were only taking a quick look, but the frames we saw were full of capped honey. We’re hopeful that we will end up with some honey for ourselves this year! That’s exciting and overwhelming all at once. We were more concerned about our Lark Rise bees (blue hive) given that they swarmed late last summer. We only saw a little bit of honey when we opened them up and the bees were agitated over our intrusion. Jonny noted eggs in one of the frames and then he quickly closed them up as I walked backwards up the hill. Ornery bees make me nervous. We’ve got several cold days ahead of us, so we made the decision to go ahead and feed the Lark Rise bees. We’ll have work to do in the next few weeks, especially since we have another package of bees arriving sometime in early April!
Keats grabbed my camera yesterday and filled my memory card with a bunch of overexposed photos, but that top one, he sure got lucky with that. I love it!!! Beatrix took the second one. She was trying to capture the green haze that is spreading just a little each day. We actually have snow in the forecast right now, but I’m just going to ignore that.
updated to add: It is totally snowing outside. My ignoring the forecast didn’t work.
Hi Ginny! I don’t know if you cross stitch at all but I thought you might be interested in one called “The Beekeeper” by Plum Street Samplers. It’s a nod to Queenie, you might want to check it out. I got mine from Stitches things.com .
I love bee update news! I live vicariously through you because for years now my mantra to my husband has been “someday I want a house where we can have bees and chickens.” I also totally want a dog, but we already have one…
That top picture is gorgeous! Nice job, Keats!
So glad the bees are doing well! And thanks for naming your hives ‘Lark Rise’ and ‘Candleford’; after casting about for something to watch a few weeks back, I thought of them and I’m thoroughly hooked on the show, but running out of episodes quickly! 🙂
Bees make me happy too! When I was still working, I used to go home on my lunch hour and just sit and watch them so I could ‘decompress’ for a bit.
I LOVE that first picture! Just amazing. And your bees! I’m so happy they made it through this crazy winter. And all that beautiful honey! I miss my bees. Wax moths got them. Or ran them out of the hive. But, I am getting 2 packages of Italian bees the 1st part of May and I am SO excited! I’m going Thursday to get another new hive and new frames for both hives. I can hardly wait. I will be taking tons of pictures of my bees too. I know how you feel, because bees make me so happy too. Can’t wait to see more of yours. Please don’t stop taking pictures of them.
Ginny,
That’s wonderful news and so exciting about your bees!
Love,
Taryn
I *love* seeing your bees….. it’s helped inspire me to become a beekeeper. Just a few more weeks until they arrive!
Can’t wait to see what happens :). Excited for u guys & hope you get some honey this year. It’s a drea of ours to have bees one day.
Hey Ginny, no worries… I’m the same way with pictures of steaming cups of coffee and tea (I never get tired of taking the same picture over and over again). I LIKE YOUR BEES TOO!
Do ever hear that honey harvested in the area you live in helps with allergies? We have been buying local honey for my son to take each day in the hopes it will help with spring allergies.
Bees are endlessly fascinating, I think!
I love the second photo. Looks so full of promise!
I think they’re fascinating! Don’t feel bad about sharing the pictures! We don’t have our own hive, but are hosting a box for a neighbor now! They move in April 19.
Thank you for sharing your joy in beekeeping! I desperately dream of a day when we have the space for such things! Your posts are beautiful.
Wonderful! I love hearing about beekeeping experiences! I dream of having my own bees one day too!
Love hearing about your hives. Vance so wants to have some, I’m thinking I’ll just send him your way! If you get any extra honey, would love to purchase some from you!!
Here in California we’ve been praying for rain. 🙁 Enjoy your snippets of Spring!
I enjoy all the varieties if photos you share. Keep sharing what’s on your heart!
i think the photos are great!
Your hives look amazing! What a great experience for your kids!
well, its good at least for me when I am teased; who would not love bees though!! I am so glad that many of your bees lasted the winter; how wonderful!!! Bees are super important! 🙂 I love how they were portrayed in Elizabeth Goudge’s _Linnets and Valerians_ … such a wonderful book!
never get tired of seeing your bees!!!!!!!!