Bee School
I just got back from my first day of Bee School! I can't wait to have bees!
At the Garden show at the Convention Center a few weeks ago I ran into the Rhode Island Beekeepers Association, and got a flyer on their yearly bee school. I wanted to go, but eventually decided not to. Then I stopped by my dad's house yesterday and told him about it. He was so excited about it that he talked me into going. Plus I can TiVo Lost.
So I went up to Lincoln, with a surprisingly large group of wannabeekeepers (© A Cry for Help), and got the first of five two-hour lessons in apiary. We learned that only female honey bees sting, that they'll fly up to five miles in search of nectar, and how newborn queens sting other queen larvae to death, thus assuming the throne. And you can watch it all in your own bee hive!
So my garden is going to kick ass this year. The herbs are already sprouting, and I'm four short lessons away from having honey makers (if it works out, I'll of course share the bounty with anyone who will come see the hive that my father is kind enough to host). Mm, honey.
March 3rd, 2005 at 8:19 am
Wannabeekeepers!! Holy crap I think thats the best invented-word yet!
March 4th, 2005 at 8:46 am
I’m interested in seeing the bee hive. Just be careful if any if your neighbors use any type of pesticides - lawncare, etc. Pretty much every common pesticide kills bees, which they can then track back to the hive and wipe that out as well. Something to watch for.
March 4th, 2005 at 10:21 am
You’re definitely welcome to come by, Pete, if you want to make the long trip up from the hinterlands. I think we’re going to cover the pesticide thing in the class, but thanks for the tip. I’m hoping the lack of typical suburban lawn nuts in my dad’s neighborhood will mean less danger for the bees.