Checking on the bees

Bees require a fair amount of attention.  Lloyd Lee opened the hives to assure the bees were settling into their new homes and building the honeycomb needed for the hives survival.

Happy beekeeper!

The bees are doing their job.  Each capped honeycomb represents an egg deposited by the queen and developing into a bee.  The expression "busy as a bee" takes on new meaning when one sees bees in action.

And where is the bee suit, Lloyd Lee?

Back into the hive to continue their work.

Bees!

The bees arrived two days ago and they are adjusting to their new hives.  They have a lot of work to do!  In the picture below you can see the sugar water solution in the quart jar.  It is there to assist them with nourishment so they do not have to forage so far from the hive to find nectar.  Right now the focus of their energy needs to be on building honeycomb so their queen will begin laying eggs.  The sugar water allows them to expend less energy finding food during these initial days.  Even bees have housekeeping to do when they first move into a new home!

The bees are the small dark specks against the white of the hive.  

Bee Prepared

We are getting ready for the arrival of bees.  They will be pollinators for our crops and, in time, producers of honey for our table and for market.

First, Lloyd Lee mowed a portion of the pasture to prepare a bee yard.

Bee hives in place.

Available for immediate occupancy.

Ready for bees.  Any takers?