Find Your Middle Ground

Busy Bees

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img_0617-e1526592820845.jpgOur 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 💛🐝🍯

 

24 responses to “Busy Bees”

  1. Kate Crimmins Avatar
    Kate Crimmins

    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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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      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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  2. AmyRose🌹 Avatar
    AmyRose🌹

    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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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you for your lovely comment and sharing Amy 💕🐝💕

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. AmyRose🌹 Avatar
        AmyRose🌹

        You are so welcome! 💝

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  3. Jill Weatherholt Avatar
    Jill Weatherholt

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      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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  4. Jewels Avatar
    Jewels

    Wonderful, Val! I didn’t realize you kept bees, if you’ve shared before, I must have missed it…

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      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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      1. Jewels Avatar
        Jewels

        Mmm honey…. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. Val Boyko Avatar
          Val Boyko

          Agreed 🐝🤗

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          Reply
  5. Healing Grief Avatar
    Healing Grief

    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.. 🌈💕🌈

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      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 💛🐝💛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. David Kanigan Avatar
    David Kanigan

    You have bees! So cool!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thanks Dave 😎🐝😎

      Like

      Reply
  7. Eliza Waters Avatar
    Eliza Waters

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Electric fences would surely put the cost up!No bears here – not far enough into the countryside. I am grateful 🙏

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  8. insearchofitall Avatar
    insearchofitall

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. jmgoyder Avatar
    jmgoyder

    Coincidentally Ming had just started going out with a woman who has hives!

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. jmgoyder Avatar
    jmgoyder

    Bee hives I mean.

    Like

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  11. Writer Lori Avatar
    Writer Lori

    Didn’t know you had bees, Val…fascinating, and so important! Would love to hear more about them as the summer passes…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Mrs. Anonymous Avatar
    Mrs. Anonymous

    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 😇

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Ann Coleman Avatar
    Ann Coleman

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Sue Dreamwalker Avatar
    Sue Dreamwalker

    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 🐝🐝🐝😍🙏💗

    Liked by 1 person

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● About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.

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