Love how the dandelion yellow mixes with the periwinkle blue on the vast green canvas. I hope my bees love it there just as much as I do.
After being a bit disappointed about my birthday bees were hauled off by a Parks person last month, I was really sad every time I walked passed my empty hive box sitting in our backyard. But today I noticed some activity of bees flying in the front of the box and took a closer look and...
... I could not believe it. I found a new swarm of Magic Bees just moved in my hive box. Yeah! Welcome little Magic bees! So happy you found the home I had ready for you! I kept my empty bee hive in our backyard and wished for bees. And then, on my birthday the bees turned up right next to our house on the playground structure.
Unfortunately, a park official already started boxing them up before I could get to them. I tried to explain they are mine and supposed to go home with me, but the guy really didn't want to listen. Bitter sweet. Still hoping for a bee swarm... Learnt from Krista how to check for mites. Also to find eggs and queen cells. And house bees. And I got to take home some of the most delicious honey I ever tasted.
I had my first beekeeping session as a beekeeper apprentice today by my teacher and mentor Krista from Seattle Bee Works. We talked about beekeeping in general, were introduced to tools, the smoker, propolis, bee behavior and lots of other interesting facts around the bees.
When we wanted to check on the Bee Garden hives we could not open the lock on the door. It took us a while with no success, so we decided to break it open. Team effort and help from a friendly neighbor walking by. The bees were alert and I made a newbie mistake by sticking my glove in the comb and getting it full with honey. From now on I had at least 15 bees on me at all times, so checking on the frames while trying not to squish any of them. If you squish one they give out a banana-like alert pheromone which makes the others aggressive. You don't want dead or angry bees so you try to avoid this. We needed more eggs for one hive and had to open all 3 to 'steal' one for the hive that has a laying worker. I am still learning a ton and I still need to learn a whole ton more. Bees are really fascinating and I have a huge respect for them. There is so much to know. I am also excited to educate my community about the importance of bees. I love 'beeing' around bees. I love watching bees. I love taking pictures of bees. I am passionate about bees since my science presentation about bees in High School. I always found them very interesting and even got a good grade on my project. I watched 'Vanishing of the bees' and was shocked. I dreamed of having bees the night my former neighbor Lauren posted her mission to create an education apiary in my neighborhood. Sure thing, I was in. And in Spring 2013 Lauren, some friends and neighbors and my family built the bee enclosure in the West Seattle Bee Garden. We came a long way. Finally I get the chance to work with bees and get to know them even closer. |
AuthorCurious Bee. Forest Steward. Nature Nerd. Climate Activist Mom. Categories
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February 2024
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