The Girls

Spring arrived late this year. We finally got the yard cleanup done other than the lawn maintenance which we've put off until the very last, and wouldn't you know it, that's exactly when the much-needed rain decided to make an appearance. I'll tell you what I haven't been doing, and that is finishing the tealeaves cardigan. There's just been too much excitement around here over our new guests... our little sister bees!

The girls seem to have settled in nicely. I've been diligently following the schedule provided by our local beekeeping association to make sure everything is on track. There are eggs, larva, and capped brood in the hive - right on schedule. In fact if I were to check inside today, I would expect to see the first baby bees chewing their way out of their little wax covered cells to totter around a bit before taking their places and pitching in toward the goal of the colony, which is soley to reproduce enough worker bees to be able to gather enough honey stores to survive the winter. They literally work themselves to death to this end (sad). I don't expect to harvest any honey this year; this is a brand new hive, and I want to make sure the colony has enough stores built up for itself. 

Oh the fascination of watching these little creatures organize and work so incredibly hard. I can literally spend hours sitting at the hive entrance watching their comings and goings, their little pollen pouches bursting with precious wares collected from miles around. They are oblivious to my intrusion in their single-minded focus. They are beautiful.

 

"Go to the bee and learn how diligent she is,

and what a noble work she produces,

whose labours kings and private men use for 

their use, she is desired and honoured by all,

and though weak in strength, she

values wisdom and prevails."

***

Proverbs 6:8 (Septuagint)

Comments

[ellen kelley]

Lovely photos and lovely words. For some reason, I am a little teary-eyed...but not in a bad way. Thank you.

[steph]

that tea leaves can wait just a bit (although it IS coming along very nicely!!!).....those bees would definitely have my full time attention! You are 'official'!!!! and obviously doing everything just right. The photos really make me wish for bees of my very own!! (We have nasty wood bees---they don't count!)

[Anne @GtSlamseysFarm]

Beutiful pictures. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your bees as I think they're such fascinating little beings. We have bees living in our chimney that sometimes turn a little nasty and fly straight for me when I'm hanging out the washing. Not the image one normally has of busy bees.

[Stephanie]

It's always a small treat to be greeted by one of your posts on my blog list, Janine! How beautifully you have written about your new precious family: the bees! I've always been in awe of their hardworking and organised nature; a little like ants but much sweeter, of course :-)

You have left me wishing I could quietly join you for a cup of tea beside your brand new hive.

Happpy spring week to you.

[Thomasina Tittlemouse]

So lovely to read about your bees & your pics are absolutely wonderful! Despite our miserable British Spring our bees here are thriving and we've got an extra "super" on our hive as of this last week. So hoping we will have a bit more honey than last year although I am only hosting our hive for the beekeeper in the village so I am not as up to speed on everything as you are. Here's hoping for a bee-happy summer like Yeats' "bee-loud glade" which always seems to me one of the happiest of verbal images. Lovely to be reading you again, Janine! E xx

[zephyr]

Humbling to watch those bees.
Love your photos, and that proverb

[Annie @ knitsofacto]

I've loved these last two posts. There are some hives along a field edge just down the road and I could happily sit on the nearby stile and watch the bees all day! Good luck with your girls :)