Bees

Things will be getting sweeter around here this summer. We've kicked around the idea of getting beehives for years. A few weeks ago I took the leap.

A woman I work with overheard me talking about bees a few weeks ago. When I got back to my desk, she came over and told me that her grandpa had hives with bees that he wanted to sell. His health has gone downhill in recent years and he wanted to find the bees a good home. I jumped at the chance and bought two hives. 

This afternoon was chilly but beautiful. Mr. Smith was available so I drove down to have a look at the hives.

He lives close to the river. As I crossed the Franklin Ferry bridge, I slowed to watch a fisherman in a jon boat sputter up the creek which is a tributary to the Black Warrior.

Mr. Smith was delightful. He showed me the beehives, and how to process the honey and the beeswax. He showed me each tool and how it was used. He showed me how to capture swarms of bees when hives divide.

I could have talked with him all evening, but I didn't want to overstay my welcome.

The bees will stay in place until the weather warms up. He will observe the bees and call me when they are ready. 

We're preparing a spot for the hives between the apple and peach trees. 

I'm excited.

I shot this picture last summer when I did a feature on beekeeping but my hives will look like these except they will be painted.