The post office called early Thursday morning letting me know there were two crates of bees that I needed to pick up. When I entered the post office, I saw a bee or two buzzing around. I worried they were escaping but they seemed secure. I later learned that the loose bees were actually wild bees checking out their new neighbors. The post master said I was the second person to pick up bees from him in the past week. Good thing he wasn’t terrified of bees.
The short ride home was noisy and surprisingly calming. I felt nervous and excited. I doubt they heard my continuous words of encouragement. Earlier in the day, I had set up the stands that Jim Bob’s students had welded together as well as a water dispenser for the bees. I just needed to impatiently wait the rest of the day for Jim Bob and our mentor to come home.
Our mentor, Kathy, has years of bee experience and is a wealth of knowledge. She is in her 70’s and works at Jim Bob’s school as the middle school ISS (in school suspension) teacher, not a job for the weak. Kathy has become a wonderful resource and friend. I was grateful that she was able to come over Thursday evening to help us get started on this new venture.
When Jim Bob and Kathy arrived, we donned our bee suits and loaded the hives and crates of bees into the back of Jim Bob’s pick up for their last short road trip. Yes, the suits are hot even on cool days.
Their new homes are nestled under a tree in a clearing in the back of our property. Kathy instructed us in how to move the queen and her bees into each hive. The process was surprisingly quick and easy. Initially, there was organized chaos as the bees who did not go inside immediately buzzed around. It was very cool to see them instinctively find their way into their new home where their queen was waiting. It is truly an amazing sight to behold.
The next day, Kathy returned and showed us how to release the queen from her cage so she could begin her job of laying eggs. Queens can lay well over 1000 eggs a day! One of the hives was already busy working their frames. Sadly, most of the bees in one hive were dead. The queen seemed fine but there were few bees to grow her hive. Kathy was as puzzled as us. Today, there were no bees left in that hive and I had to email the seller to give the bad news and hope for another package.
The temperature dropped dramatically last night with rain and some wind. Kathy explained that the bees keep their home at a constant 98 degrees by fanning their wings. I brought food (sugar water) in bee feeders I ordered from Amazon. But for the one, the hives all show busy bees huddled together to keep warm.
Before our bees arrived, Jim Bob and I watched the Disney + two part documentary, The Secret of Bees. It is extraordinary, giving unique insights into the life of bees, bee cultures in different parts of the world, and bee research. I highly recommend it!
I have always been interested in other cultures, especially after living in Greece and Israel. In addition to their importance to the environment and our survival, I think my fascination in other cultures, at least in part, led me to my interest in bees. I look forward to getting to know them, better understand them, and of course, enjoy the honey they will produce.
I want to open the hives and watch them work. But I will control myself and leave them alone for a few days giving them time to settle into their new digs.
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