Our bees have been extra busy in the sunshine, after being cooped up for most of the lingering winter days, and the wetter Spring.
The recent burst of blossoms, however, has released lots of pollen for nourishing the new cells and larvae. With the warmth in the last couple of weeks, it is now a bumper time for the nectar flow! Nectar is used by the bees to make honey.
There is always a balance between ensuring there is food to support the new generations and storing reserves of honey for winter survival.
Looks like there is lots about, so we have added extra supers/ upper layers to encourage the bees to make and store more.
Hive one is doing okay. Hive two is very active and healthy. Hive three has a huge active population that needs more space – hence the penthouse appearance!
We will start harvesting honey in June and will share with our local friends in July 💛🐝🍯
Find Your Middle Ground 
Our neighbor has hives. There was quite a brouhaha when they first started them. Parents very concerned about stings and all but everyone learned more about the importance of honey bees. Personally I welcomed them into my garden for pollinating. Rolled out the red carpet! I have to check to see how they fared over the winter. Some winters they lose a hive. There is always the balance of current needs and saving for future. All critters (including humans) have to strike that balance.
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Thanks Kate 💛 Bees know their business, and it’s rare for foraging bees to sting someone. There much more interested in finding blossoms! Getting close to hives alert the guard bees however … and they are ready to put down their lives to protect the hive. So much to learn and appreciate from these amazing creatures. I hope your neighbors hives faired well this winter!
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My brother does what you do, Val. I am SO relieved to hear about the bee activity because for years (more then I would like to think about) I saw a radical decrease in bee activity. Not too many I’ve seen here yet but, we are further behind in flowers then you are. Things are blooming all over the place with no consistent “pattern” as seen in other years. The Hummingbirds are feasting right now! I grow lavender which when in flower, the bees cannot get enough of. Then of course there are my roses and lilacs to name but two. Thank YOU for helping Mother with the pollinators of this Earth. If we had no bees, we would not be able to survive. Have a great Sunday!! 😘
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Thank you for your lovely comment and sharing Amy 💕🐝💕
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You are so welcome! 💝
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I’ve never know anyone who had bee hives…how cool! I hope you’ll keep us posted on the progress, Val. Wish I lived closer…I love honey!
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Thanks Jill. 💛 It is very cool…. and so fascinating!! They are amazing creatures. Don had to build up #3 hive to prevent them leaving (swarming) and finding a bigger space. It’s working.
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Wonderful, Val! I didn’t realize you kept bees, if you’ve shared before, I must have missed it…
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Thanks Julie. It’s my hubby who does all the tending …. I help with bottling the honey and cleaning up all the stickiness 😊
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Mmm honey…. 😊
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Agreed 🐝🤗
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Looks amazing Val and it is so important we care for our bees, like you are. I stopped buying honey from the stores as I know they don’t support the future of bees.. 🌈💕🌈
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It takes quite a bit of work pto keep the hives healthy so they can flourish and give us honey. Thanks for supporting your local beekeepers Karen 💛🐝💛
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You have bees! So cool!
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Thanks Dave 😎🐝😎
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I love honey, but it has become more expensive than maple syrup (can you imagine?) so that is what we’ve switched to. It’s awesome that you produce your own. I take it you don’t have bears? Every hive around here is surrounded by an heavy-duty electric fence!
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Electric fences would surely put the cost up!No bears here – not far enough into the countryside. I am grateful 🙏
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I admire anyone who keeps bees. It’s a big job. The bees here are fat and fast here. They have been so busy the last couple of days. Just so happy with the Rhodies in full bloom.
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Coincidentally Ming had just started going out with a woman who has hives!
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Bee hives I mean.
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Didn’t know you had bees, Val…fascinating, and so important! Would love to hear more about them as the summer passes…
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I think that is so cool! Lots of work but looks like you are doing an amazing job! I am terrified of bees, so definitely not for me! Haha 😇
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Bees have become a bit endangered where I live. And although I’m not a fan of the ones who stung me, I do know we need bees in our environment as they are part of a delicate balance. I’m glad you’re doing your part to keep the bee population up!
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Oh how wonderful you keep Bees Val, they are vital to keep our crops and fruits and flowers pollinated,
I am so happy that yours are doing so well, I encourage my granddaughter to not be afraid of Bees, and we had a wild bees nest in our allotments between the sheds last year,
I have seen a few lone large bubble queen bees searching for new places to nest this year too..
Your Honey will taste wonderful with all those blooms..
BEE Happy my friend 🐝🐝🐝😍🙏💗
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