Getting used to the buzz of bees

Three Rivers Beekeeping association opened their apiary last weekend. An apiary is a place where bees are kept or a collection of hives or colonies of bees kept for their honey. Since I am starting my own bee hives soon, I want to learn as much as I can about how to install the bees in the hive and how to keep them happily making honey. I also wanted to get used to bees buzzing around me.

The demonstration took place quickly due to looming storm clouds that were ready to unleash torrential rains and hail. They installed 5 hives in a matter of 35 minutes! It isn't ideal to work with bee hives right before a storm because they usually all return to the hive for shelter. Ideally, I will want to inspect and install my bees during the day while most of the bees will be out of the hive collecting nectar and pollen.

The expert beekeepers answered questions about how find your queen bee and how to identify if your queen has been laying eggs. The term "bee brood" refers to the egg, larva and pupa stages in the life of bees. The honey comb turns a darker color brown as the bee develops. They also showed us the light-colored honey in well-developed honey comb. Lastly, they talked about helping to feed the growing bees with a sugary syrup so that they can have enough energy to create a strong honey comb in new hives.

Even though they smoked the hives to calm the bees during the demonstration, there were still hundreds of bees flying around our heads. I was thankful for the loaner "bee veil" and had my first bee attach itself to the veil to check me out. I talked sweet to the bee and we became friends! ;) It is actually exciting to have that many bees swarming around without getting stung! YAY BEEKEEPING!


Me in a bee veil!! :)