Allow Me to Catch You Up...

We have two hives. Hive 1 and Hive 2.

Hive 1 was started back on April 6th with a package of bees. It was frigid and freezing for the next couple of days after they arrived so my dad decided we should go ahead and install them - indoors! It was quite nerveracking, to say the least. Not only was I not used to dealing with bees, but I now had to deal with them for the first time while inclosed inside a garage. Things went rather well, other than the fact that I dropped the queen's cage promptly upon taking it out. For the next few days, bees swarmed around the garage, especially banging against the windows, longing to fly out into the sun. I was very nervous. This wasn't really how it was supposed to work.

So, after a few days, my dad moved the hive outside to it's designated spot, filled the hive up with sugar syrup and left them alone.

It's been six weeks now, and Hive 1 is doing GREAT! They've drawn out all the wax on their brood box and are moving on to the first honey super, the queen is GIGANTIC and active and we have tons of capped off brood, eggs, and larvae. We have some honey, pollen, nectar, wax, everything! Those bees are working like crazy! It's WILDLY fascinating to watch bees. You can get right up next to the hive, and as long as you aren't messing with the hive, they won't even try to sting you. Hive 1's bees seem very docile, as well.

We had some trouble with ants getting into the sugar syrup and we nipped that in the bud by sprinkling borax around the hives and setting them on stands, in water. It seems to have worked.

So far, my dad has been stung 10 times. I haven't been stung once. I'll tell you why.

1. I never go near the bees without copious amounts of smoke.
2. I never go near the bees without a veil, and gloves. I can go without long sleeves, etc. But I must have the veil and gloves.
3. I send the bees love. (Ever seen 'The Secret Life of Bees'?) I love my bees. If you love your bees, your bees will love you back. My dad, on the other hand, calls the bees "beetards." See, it makes a difference.

Hive 2 is a bit different. More on Hive 2 later.