Tuesday, April 12, 2016

HAVING BEES

Do you Facebook? 
I only do so I can put the HPO headlines front and center...as an old person, I have to face that social media is the way the majority of the public inform themselves. 
I have taken advantage of it and have LIKED several pages that are helpful and I can learn from.

Recently there was a FACEBOOK FIGHT on a bee association page...how can you tell it was a fight?  It's so interesting how the tone of a written word makes itself loud and clear! 

The topic...keeping bees or having bees...two entirely different things and the whole rant really put me in my place.

I am not and never will be a
BEEKEEPER
so I guess that makes me a
BEEHAVER

this is my life list and I wanted to raise honey bees for a very very long time...so long ago that I almost forgot about it!

I suspect this was me in some other life...I would be the one drawing, except she's right handed


maybe what I really love the most is growing flowers and therefore having bees just comes with it

and no matter what, if you keep or have...you will get a bee sting


don't be scared...it only hurts for a little while...last week I got a bee sting on my upper lip and reminded myself of Marge....as my dad used to say
"I've had worse on my lip and never stopped whistling"

HAVING bees is so easy...no daily checks of the hive, no finding the queen and putting a dot on her, no inspections for mites and worms and bugs and stuff...no...just let the bees be bees like they have been doing for thousands of years...all without the help of a human

on occasion...giving them a little intoxicating cedar smoke (it intoxicates me too!)

and taking just a little bit of God's perfect food to have and share...

I hear it's the best thing in the world for a bee sting!



22 comments:

Anonymous said...

the bees are so very important,, did you hear the theory about cell phone towers causing the bees to become lost?
such beautiful photos you brought us,,
I don't think we ever really control the bees,, I think just allow us to live with them when they want,,if happy they thrive,, if sad they die,, kind of like people,,,,,

Woodside Park said...

Gina - As a gardener, I've noticed, sadly, fewer bees each season. This is very disturbing as honey bees are vital to pollinating many fruit and veggies. I did read that Maryland, where we now live, is cracking down on a commonly used pesticide, neonicotinoid, found to harm bees. And just this morning, I heard on the radio that Ortho will stop using that same ingredient....phasing it out by 2021. Too bad it's not sooner. Thought you'd be interested! Happy spring, L

Tina@WhatWeKeep said...

Stung on the lip? Do you look like a Kardashian??? heeheeehee
Is being a drummer up next??? I can't wait!
xoxo, T.

Sarah said...

I'm a bee fan! Always have beenl. Guess it's the elementary teacher in me or the gardener. Likely both! I'm not a bee keeper, but encourage them in my garden with healthy bee loving plants. When I taught, the bees would be busy doing their thing outside, and when we all went out to the playground it was a buzzing battle. Some of the childrend would run with fright, while others were gentle and watched. Bees don't usually bother humans. Sorry one was not too friendly to you. ;-)
Great post!

Karena said...

Hi Gina, I think it is wonderful and amazing to be saving and raising bees!
As with the other species in the world it is so important to all of life.

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Oh no Gina a bite, YIKES! I am so glad you post about your bee keeping, it is something I've always dreamed of doing.
xoxo,
Vera

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

they scare me because I swell up if they sting me. Happy you are keeping (or having) them for the rest of us.

Unknown said...

There's so much focus on the safety of bees right now here in Canada and I would love to have a hive. But here in the town we live, they won't allow it. I'm thinking that's probably a good thing. I can see myself covered in stings. So I'll vicariously through you and a couple of my other blogger buddies.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

What a cheery post! My son is a beekeeper in Washington. For a while before he made the move from NM we kept a few hives for him. Makes you feel so right with the world. Love that pic of the lavender and urn! So nice that you stopped by!

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

It's lovely that you have some bees. I plant a lot of natives with my flowers and vegetables so we have lots of different kinds buzzing around. Don't think I could take care of them, because I worry they could get sick. xo Su

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

That would be a phenomenal hobby!!!! Being close to nature as such? That is what the world needs more of: NATURE. How lovely my dear, and thank you so much for visiting my blog!

Algodão Tão Doce said...

Amiga, com muita alegria recebi um prêmio que circula na net, achei uma ótima oportunidade para demonstrar
o meu reconhecimento pelo mérito do seu blog.
Bem ...fica aqui o meu carinho, e a felicidade em partilhá-lo consigo!!!
Um doce abraço, Marie.

Marina in Blue said...

You are very brave! Good luck

Hugs from Spain

Marina

bj said...

when i was a little girl, there was a bee keeper in our town and he had a little shop downtown, where he sold his DELICIOUS honey and honeycomb...big oblong pieces of it, wrapped in wax paper and he sold it for a nickle...i bought some every time we went to town..

Anajá Schmitz said...


Que legal! Espero que consigas realizar teu sonho. Aqui temos abelhas africanas. Elas são muito perigosas, atacam as pessoas.
As abelhas nativa de nosso país são mansas e tem um mel muito saboroso. Eu tenho medo de abelhas. Mas gosto do mel.
Desejo uma ótima semana.

Stacey said...

I'm so glad to see you share a post on the topic of bees. They are so incredibly important. We are making more of an effort in our yard to plant things they like. It's neat to see what you do out there. Thanks so much for sharing this at the garden party. We will do this again next month so please come back. :)

handmade by amalia said...

I love bees. And fear them at the same time.
Amalia
xo

Decor To Adore said...

This post was fascinating. Thank you so much for linking up to the Garden Party. Your bees are completely enchanting!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

I am not a beekeeper, but I have bees in my garden and love them. Have been stung a few times myself. :) Last year I had tons of those giant bumble bees. I always heard that they can't sting you. Any truth to that? Thanks for sharing with the Garden Party.
hugs,
Jann

Art and Sand said...

I've never really thought much about bees until I planted lavender in my garden. Now, I enjoy sitting near the lavender plant (now about 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide) while I eat lunch or read and watching the bees. They buzz around having a great time in my garden.

At 67 years old, I had my very first bee sting last month - stepped on a bee on the beach. My husband did the same thing the next week.

Nikki said...

We are very new beehavers! But are enjoying them so far. I loved reading your post.
:)
https://gwingal.blogspot.com/

Marissa said...

Gina, You are amazing raising bees and protecting them I would be scared out of my mind.
Hugs Marissa.