FAITH

If you asked me to sum up in the fewest possible words the meaning of religion, I think I should say "It is faith-that is, believing there is a God and that that God is good".

I am fully aware that for millions today the word FAITH has no meaning at all.

They believe only in what they can see or touch.

Faith includes all that but it goes further.  It teaches us to believe where we cannot prove, to trust where we cannot see our way.

~Francis Gay, The Friendship Book, 1961

Swarm Season

Officially swarm season!

Already collected our first swarm, hooray for free bees

Early Morning

People forget to provide water for bees,
I've turned this old dog watering dish into a station.

There are some risks of transmitting diseases
but it allows me to manage bees near buildings.

 My bees were out early this morning getting water.

Bees on a log, this would be a fun log rolling contest.

Flipping Bees

What should I be doing to manage my bees?  

Flip hives, like any good BBC drama, it's time for upstairs to become downstairs, clean off the bottom boards of all the dead bees, debris, and bits of uncapping wax.  

It always makes me a bit nervous as this is the time of the year where starving can occur.

  I prefer when the overwintered hive is in the top box and I can see them when I open the lid.

Now they are moved to the bottom to allow for brood rearing.  

Keep buzzing girls so I know you're alive.

I've also fed them supplemental pollen patties even though I've seen pollen loads coming in.  

Time for a little supplemental syrup as well.

How can you not love this amazing creature?

Spring

 Spring is in the air....literally

Water Cooler

Bees are headed to the water like it's nectar from the gods.

Sky Rockets In Flight

 Girls are excited for spring

 But don't get too anxious

There's little for you to eat right now. 

Working in the Snow

Girls on the Side

How do people make it through life without a sister? 

 ~Sara Corpening

Take Off vs Landing

Extracting!

 Removing bees from the supers

 Uncapping the honeycomb

 Spinning (ensures you don't damage the comb)

 filtering

Nectar of the Queens

Gatherers

Shedding

Shedding pollen....golden food

Borago officinalis

Borage

Borago officinalis

 Used as an herb

Tasty cucumber flavored leaves

Bees love them more than honey (okay maybe not more)

Landing Gear Down

Borage

Apparently isn't boring

Stop And Smell The Lavender

Head buried deep, yummy nectar

Purple

Research

Officially Bee Season