Springtime Buzz

Flowers begin to bloom as the rains return to Miami.  The winter ends as temperatures rise from the frigid 60s to the mid to upper 80s.  As I walk around Coconut Grove I am blissfully aware of all the activity occurring between the pollinators and those reaping the benefit.  Entire trees bloom in radiant yellows and bright purples.  I stop underneath a particularly alive tree with yellow flowers that seems to be humming with life.  The activity within this small ecosystem inspired me to get back on the computer to update you as to how the colonies are fairing.
The move back to the Plantation went smoothly last week!  I received help from Ben and a young man named Miguel.  I closed up the hives after dark using newspaper, duck tape, and thumbtacks.  We gently moved them to the truck and off we went.

Miguel and I skillfully navigate the yard as Ben takes pics...no worries, Ben helped too.

Finishing the tape up.

Moving back into The Plantation!

Prepping for the release.

I went back this week to check on the hives to see if they survived the move.  Unfortunately, Beeopolis swarmed prior to our move and Bernsting swarmed shortly after its relocation.  I am happy to report that both have new queens and are thriving.  With only a two week window between swarms during this season, a hive inspection every week and a half should help prevent future swarms.  Why prevent swarms?  For Bueno Bees, we have a proven laying queen in both hives.  Also, by killing off potential queens (by destroying queen cells) I can keep populations high for the honey season.

The lighter dots are drone brood.  Notice how they protrude from the cells like little bullets.

Very common to colonies about to swarm, the new queen has hatched and almost all of the cells are full of worker brood to cover the gap while the new queen gets mated.

No worries, it's a drone.  Drones do not have stingers.

The swarming will not be so often as the summer advances and honey production picks up.
After this next honey extraction, there should be enough excess wax to start doing something with it (candles, soap, pure beeswax cubes?).  Until next time, bee kind to you neighborhood pollinators!

A New Year

Writing now, after such a long pause, stirs feelings like that of not talking to a friend in a long time and all of the sudden showing up with a pizza and a load of stories to share.  Pizza aside, happy New Year! 

I am convinced that the move back to the Plantation will happen sooner than later.  That feeling has not left me since I moved out of the Plantation in August.  I am still a grateful guest in Jerry's yard.  The hives have flourished there and continue to (slowly) produce honey.  This last batch yielded a bunch of baby honey bears and some left overs to spare. 

2 oz Honey bears!

They fit in the palm of your hand!

The light shining through shows the true color.

The cooling weather around the nation forces honeybees into their winter clusters.  A winter cluster is when the queen and her workers get together and weather the winter over their stocks of honey.  They eat a spot dry and then, when it is warm enough, they move to a fresh spot of honey!  Where do the drones weather the cold?  They do not get the opportunity as the colony shuns them and they just die off.  Again, drones exist to mate with the queen, so they serve no purpose during the winter months.  I am lucky in south Florida since Miami's warmer climate allows for a longer honey season.  As a matter fact, the first real "chill" of the year came through as temperatures dipped into the low 50s.  Honeybees prove resilient in these mild temperatures and continue to forage whatever blooms.  

Getting started.

Stacking this way make the boxes easier to manipulate during the time I am working the hive.

Mmmm, look at that honey!

The excitement of being an apiarist continues, but at times it can be a little overwhelming.  My biggest lesson learned to this point: keep the colonies close.  Driving the visit them in Miami brings great amounts of stress as many drivers here refuse to succumb to a new American driving style.  Blinkers are optional...speeds are suggestions...and my blood pressure reflects it!  The peace and tranquility of working the hives disappears shortly after merging onto I-95.  My mind wanders at night wondering what the colonies are doing.  I long to sit and observe them and just relax.  Maybe when I get back into the Plantation I will do just that and slow things down a bit.  I find myself wearing protective clothing all too often and Emily even observed that I am a less loving beekeeper when I am fully suited.  

Sometimes the bees build too deep on the frames and I end up uncapping some honey on site! 

More honey!

I am proud to announce that I have accomplished my first resolution of the year with my next announcement!  I am proud to introduce the names of my first two colonies: Bernsting and Beeopolis.  Bernsting is the one that is all white boxes and Beeopolis is the one with the natural wooden colored boxes intertwined.  Both have been fantastic, but Beeopolis has already produced at least two times the amount of honey as Bernsting.  Maybe if I raise taxes on Beeopolis that will encourage Bernsting to work harder...ha!  Political joking aside, thanks to Rob and Alex for the submissions! 

Thanks for your patience during this time between posts.  Shoot me an email if you have any questions at: buenobees@gmail.com  And until next time, bee kind to you neighborhood pollinators!