Look Ma, No Gloves!

Spring is here!!!

At least the plants and bees/pollinators think so ;) I'm still cold....but thankful that I live in the South ;) I love springtime!!! Everything blooming and buzzing....

I have reached a goal!!! Well....kind of, I mean, I was so excited that this is the second "Nuc" that I've been into without gloves!!! YAY!! I was so happy! ;)

Some times happiness doesn't last too long! LOL
Look Ma, No gloves!!! ;)

After I finished up with the Nuc... I went into the larger hive, still gloveless and confident....

Then out of no where, one of the girls got angry and flew right onto my thumb and stung the fire out of me!!! Needless to say, when the throbbing stopped, I put my gloves back on! I don't know what made her mad, I hadn't squished any of them....oh, well, gloves it is, on the large hives!

I totally admire anyone that can get into a full hive of bees without hand protection! The small hives I have no problem with, I've even gone into them without head veil and gloves and they are awesome....but I just can't make it through the large hives.....
"Welcome home honey".....one of my nucs. This one houses the sweet girls I had my pic with....no gloves. I love small hives!!

Until next time!!!

BEE HAPPY!!!

Julie

Bee Fundamentals at Oatland Island

Keepers of the gate ;)Preparing for lunch! Low Country boil and fresh fried catfish! yum!
Bee friends sharing stories ;)


Just a few of the many animals out at Oatland Island.
A newly donated calf, his mom refused to feed him and the owners (members of our bee club) donated him to Oatland Island. He's being taken very good care of by the sweet caregivers that work there!
A message and blessing, from our "Newbee" bee club president, Faith Jaudon and Oatland Islands best, Annie Quinting!
Time to eat!!!!
How adorable!!! I couldn't resist!
We had an awesome turn out for our third year running!! Thanks to everyone that came out!!! We look forward to seeing everyone plus more next year!!!
One of the last classes that started after lunch...the bee yard.

There were classes going on all morning long but we (my husband and I) were floating as were other beekeepers helping out where needed, but this was our main post.

We had an awesome day and we're looking forward to an even bigger turnout next year!!!

Until next time!

BEE INVOLVED!! ;0)

Julie

Cleansing Flights/Fly Overs, Moles and Minerals

Cleansing flights.....

When we first got our bees a few years ago we were told about cleansing flights and how the bees would "drop" on our cars. Yes, they did back then and still do it now. I have always meant to take pictures of it but never had my camera with me when I passed by my car, so this year I made it a point to take a picture or two. Mind you it had rained earlier so it's not as bad in the pics as it is most days.;) I always say if I went out and buffed my car I'd have a really good wax shine ;) I also call these "fly overs"



I didn't notice these scratches until I uploaded this photo...neighbors cats again...grrrr, but oh, well nothing a little bit of wax poo won't wipe out, huh? ;)
We have moles... aggravating, tunneling moles....they tear up the yard something awful. Here one tunneled under my Nuc stand and I actually straightened it up before I took this picture! The poor girls were nearly entrance down in the ground!
These last pitures are of our honeybees gathering minerals out of a tray that I have on our patio that I started seeds in last year. I couldn't get close ups of them but I could see them licking the soil, it was so neat to watch them. Butterflies gather nutrients from the soil like this too.






My camera died the other day and I am SO lost without it :( I'm on the look for another one so wish me luck! I needed it desperately this weekend when we got into some of our hives. We ran into some very unusual things that we've never seen or even read about in any of our magazines or books. I told my husband no one would ever believe me if I just wrote about it with no pics to back it up.......That's what I love about bees, they are part of nature, something that's part of our lives and something we will never "bee" able to figure out. They are amazing creatures and I know most people that know me (even the ones that don't) ;) think I'm the absolute weirdest person in the world but I have such a passion for them! I wish everyone could feel what I feel about them sometimes...geez let me stop, the men in the "other" white suits might "bee" at my door in a bit ;) LOL

Joking aside though......I do Love my honeybees!

Until next time!

BEE COMPASSIONATE!!

Julie

Honeybee projects

Winter for beekeepers is a time to prepare for the spring...for the start of a very "bizzy" and sweet season. I volunteered to help out with a project that will help young students learn about honeybees. My part was to help out with the making of the bees. Knee high panty hose were used by being stuffed with batting (pillow) stuffing then painted a honey yellow.

Drying in the warmth of the wood stove.
Next the stripes, eyes and back have to bee painted on.
Then comes the wings and pipe cleaner legs and antennae.Isn't she cute! She will hang on a comb made from a large white sheet made to look like a honey comb along with all the others that I made. When you walk into the building (that's shaped like a giant bee skep by the way) you will feel like a tiny ant that wondered into a giant bee hive. I am looking forward to seeing it when it's finished. I'll post pics when we get there!

Not sure when we'll "bee" finished but I'll get the chance to check up on it next month! So, stay tuned! I'll keep ya posted!

Until next time,

BEE Bee-u-ti-fully Sweet!!!

Julie

There's Really Nothing To Fear!

This is my sweet neighbor, during the summer she came over and we went into a couple of hives. She's a natural! I think the only thing that bothered her was the biting knats!

This was a small hive we went into that I had split a couple of days earlier and bad weather set in, during that time robbing happened. The hive was destroyed :(
Once a hive is destroyed or weakened it becomes open for attack on so many levels. Here wax moths moved in and within a day they can consume and destroy!
Here you can see the trails from the moth larvae tunneling through the cells eating the bee larva.

Pretty pose ;)
My poor girls :( I wanted to cry!
This is one of our Nucs that has grown really well!My sister wanted to go into the hives so we did. I love showing how the bees are to anyone interested! Everyone I talk to is intrigued by them, wanting deep down to see what they're all about but they are still a bit afraid. Really there is no reason to be afraid! They are sweet creatures and give so much to us. The main thing to always remember if you ever come to our apiary.......don't wear cologne or perfume......and if you happen to be visited by a girl or two, just feel privileged ;) They like to see who has come for a visit....just don't swat or wave them away;)
Me and my sister
Her first time holding a frame of bees ;)

Two more sweet people interested in bees! They'll make fine beekeepers! And parents ;)

They both were naturals at looking for eggs and the queen!



I love letting people know how sweet beekeeping really is. I do hope if you are the slightest bit interested in honeybees that you will look up a local bee keeper and ask to visit their apiary and maybe get into a hive or two....you'll bee glad you did.

Until next time.......

Bee curious!

Julie