A sunny respite from winter

and a visit to my bees

This week, we were gifted a respite from winter weather, two beautiful sunny days slipped between one week of arctic temps and another week of clouds and rain.

Warm sunshine and temperatures in the 60s (Fahrenheit) promised spring would return and tempted me outside again. 

To my delight, the mornings were warm enough to sit outside on the porch and watch the sunrise with a hot cup of coffee and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders.  From where I sat on my porch, I could see my bee hive.

I knew once the afternoon sun warmed the hive, I could visit the bees and peek inside to see how they were doing.  I was nervous and excited to check on them. 

(this is a picture from summer for you as I forgot to take a picture this week)

The wild winter winds and frigid temperatures the week before had been rough on the hive.

The wind had blown cold rain in through the entrance.  To make things worse, unbeknownst to me, the weight of the honey had caused the hive stand to sink into the ground at the wrong angle, so the water ponded on the hive floor. 

Luckily, I did check on my bees, and I was able to re-level the stand so that the water drained out the front.  However, it was too cold to chance opening the hive.  I had to wait and see if any bees had survived.

So, on this gift of a sunny afternoon, I walked down the drive to visit my bees.  They were busy buzzing around the hive and flying in and out.

Some bees were even returning with bright red pollen on their legs.  I was excited for their lucky find, and I was curious to know what plant they were able to harvest pollen from after a week of arctic weather. 

I quickly opened the top cover and placed some winter sugar board inside for them to eat.  By the weight of the hive, I was guessing that the honey was about gone.  It had been too easy to lift and level the hive.  When it was full of honey, it was too heavy for me to move.  So perhaps I was just in time.    

I replaced the cover and sat with the bees awhile.  I breathed a sigh of relief as I listened to them buzzing inside the hive.  I had been so worried about them in the cold and rain, and I had imagined the worst.  As a new beekeeper, I still felt awkward and unsure of myself in tending a hive.

I don’t think I can explain to you the joy that the bees bring me.

I cannot explain exactly why I was so determined to welcome them here last year when I rushed to find bees for my land.  I can tell you that my relationship with the bees is beyond words.  My reason for keeping bees is beyond logic.

I have not taken any honey from the hive this year.  The bees have not made me any money.  Yet I am aware that the bees are a beautiful contribution to my land and my life. 

The sound and vibration of their humming makes me smile.  The smell of their warm hive on a hot summer day delights me.

I am grateful and happy to be with them here on my land as I settle into my home.

(This is a picture of one board from the hive taken early in the year.  We were checking the boards for the queen and the health of the hive.  This is a picture of the queen – the larger bee in the center – earlier this year)

I consider myself a beetender rather than a beekeeper.  The bees are welcome here.  They are welcome to their honey.  It is the fruit of their labor.  If next year they have honey in abundance, I would like to have a jar or two for myself.  What a treat it would be to taste!  This year, their first year, the hive was still small and they required their honey for the winter. 

There are many books about bees.  My favorite is Song of Increase: Listening to the Wisdom of Honeybees for Kinder Beekeeping and a Better World by Jaqueline Freeman, Susan Cherkan McElroy (Foreword by).

This book is incredibly unique.   The author allows the bees to tell their own story. 

They share about the magic of the queen’s mating flight, the communion of bees and flowers, and how they create their home.

If you don’t believe that it is possible to listen to the bees and hear them tell their story, perhaps reading Song of Increase will convince you otherwise. 

If you do believe that it is possible to listen to the bees and hear them tell their story, then don’t miss this chance to learn from them. 

The honeybees are wise teachers.  Just as we can learn from the plants, we can learn from the bees, if we are willing to listen.