Rebel Bee
Bees + Honey
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Storm prep
Splish, splosh, slide and glide, we sloshed or way through the mud visible in the headlights of my stationary car. The wind was picking up and a job that I could have done last weekend or even weeks before, had been left of course to the last minute. The storm was imminent. “Don’t shine the…
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Bees on Ivy
“Bees on Ivy”, This was my first published photograph, and it was chosen as the front cover photo for a beekeeping magazine. I was so proud. It was only after it was published and circulated across the globe that it was pointed out that the featured insects were not honeybees! Nope, they were not even…
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Protected
My hives are well protected again these days. A fine drizzle was making up its mind whether to stop or not and the long grass and brambles now covering the pile of stones were well and truly wet. I had three choices: Walk away and come back another day – The sensible thing to do.…
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Protest
I ran through the protesters to my shed. If they could carry placards, they’d read: Return what’s ours! Our hives, our honey! Beekeepers are criminals! Robber! The buzzing is like a low rev of an engine. It’s October, it’s not even warm, where did all these bees come from? The meagre bit honey in…
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Hives of horror!
Gee, it’s some savagery. Bee keeping is husbandry and all the distasteful tasks that goes with that word but I know some beekeepers who approach hives like a ninja or a tai chi guru. Their walk, their movements, even their talk, flows gently. Their bees seem to appreciate this. I’ve also seen beginner beekeepers who…
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Honey attraction
Within 60 seconds they were crawling with bees! I had my back turned when the plastic box, a few supers and broken frames that had dribbles of honey left over from extracting was put out in the back yard during the clean-up the following day. I had forgotten to mention that putting anything with honey…
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Mini rocket
“TTTTTURN IIIIT DDDOWN!” I shout above the rattle of the extractor and whine of the motor. I am stating the obvious. My nose is inches from the lever, but we have a rule; I am not to touch the lever. That’s his job. I am too sticky. One of my feet is firmly pressed on…
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Sojourn
Relics and beads dangled from the gnarled branches of the lime tree which was embedded in the wall of the holy well. There was no one to be seen or heard as I took in the surroundings of this sheltered spot. Peace enveloped me in the stillness. Leaves barely dared rustle. I went down the…
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Lambasted
Never balk at forking out for good PPE. It does what it says. Personal Protection My shiny new triple-layered bee suit paid for itself yesterday. You know how you leave the best until last? Well…I had left the worst until last procrastinating removal of the supers from a hive that is in an awkward location…