3 hives

Keith came over and we looked at the hives today.  The oldest hive is chalk full of bees.  The honey inside is red, maybe like a birdfeeder red.  I wonder if they are sucking up a birdfeeder's nectar, or if the red sun flowers did it.  It's red.  Ruby red.  That hive is great.  The guard bees seem to hate me but didn't bother Keith at all.

The newest hive was light.  It seemed that there weren't a lot of bees going in and out, and not a lot of eggs.   There is no shortage of capped honey in there, but sheesh, not enough brood.  I fed them a patty and am considering pinching the queen and combining hives.

The green hive has really full comb, lots of eggs, lots of bees on the comb, but not really a lot of new comb.   I think it will behoove me to combine these two hives.

I'll carry one over to the other, place newspaper between them and combine them for a week, then move the comb down into the frame.  I would feel great about it if I actually saw the queen in the green hive.  Not seeing her bothers me.  I don't want to pinch the queen if I can avoid it.  maybe she is just not laying.

I want Jose to come and see the hives.

New Hive

Got a new hive today, and stung once.

These bees are suspect.  I haven't actually interacted with them because they were too darn mad.  Anyway, I will likely check them out tomorrow.

I hope to give these bees to my brother, but I am not sure how to get them to his house.   The numbers are low and they just don't seem vibrant.  I am worried about this new hive. I guess winter will tell.


Bees want to survive, I get that.  I guess we'll have to see.

Drones

An unknown force rode into the hives on the wind. Maybe it was barometric pressure, maybe a measurable drop in heat, but after many hot nights of bees out much of the night sipping on mint juleps and standing on the porch, the party is over.

Bodies are strewn on the ground.

I coaxed two bees onto a piece of comb I found on the ground.  Each tried to sip the honey, but couldn't. They were drones.  Hungry.  Men. Exiled. Helpless.

Romeo knew what the bees know. Exile is worse.  They starve after being kicked out.  Some girls team up to fly high and drop the wounded drone in a place he can't return.


The bodies pile up. It is carnage.

And yet, the massacre of the drones signales a queenright hive preparing for winter.  She has spoken.

Only the contributors can stay.

The bodies have been piled
the fire, stocked.
Let the ashes be ashes.
Let the dust--
Tomorrow we will suck nectar from the lips
Tomorrow we will gather pollen to our hips
In winter we will come together as sisters
In sisters we will come together for winter
Let the ashes be ashes
Let the dust be.