On Saturday, Hubby and I opened up our bee hive for the first time this spring to see how well they had made it through the winter. We found the queen and she is already busy laying the eggs that will be the next generation of bees, and all the little worker bees were coming in and out of the hive with their pollen sacs loaded down. (Which is a very good sign!) Our main purpose, however was to replace one of the hive boxes that was coming apart and move the hive to a new location- a stand that Hubby built that puts the hive a little higher off the ground.
I shot this short video of the old and new hive after we were finished; I hope you are able to watch it because you will see something truly amazing. Near the end at about 40 seconds into the video, you will see some of the bees that are in the new hive on the "landing board" with their heads down and rears in the air~ they are sending a scent signal that this is the new location of the hive so the bees that are still in the old hive or out foraging for pollen will be able to find their way "home".
Hope you enjoy watching these amazing little creatures!
A scent trail? I never heard of such. I couldn't help but laugh. I can only imagine a honey smelling fart.
ReplyDeleteGreat video, Paula! Honey bees really are amazing. The first time we got bees I was in heaven. I loved being in the center of them flying around. :) Our first ones, three-band Italian didn't work out so well, but we got German bees from a friend the next year that did well.
ReplyDeleteSadly, Goodman doesn't share the sentiment for then and got stung every single time we worked them so we let another bee enthusiast have them when they swarmed. I did harvest 35 quarts that year though.
Have a great week!
I have never been up close and personal with a bee hive before... my gosh... and to think they communicate by scent!
ReplyDeletehow cool is that? wow - God created such fascinating creatures
ReplyDeletei learn something new every day. i had a hard time watching the video,but i did. i am terrified of bees and we have a tree that hums just like your hive. i wish you had them. i do love honey but just the thought of the hives makes me shiver and shake. hope you were in a bee keeper suit when you took the video. it is really a good video and sharp and clear. now i know they are talking to each other.
ReplyDeleteNeat video Miz Paula! And I thoroughly enjoy the "end product"!!!Hahaaaa
ReplyDeletehughugs
so glad your hive is doing well - even in a relocation!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching that video and I was wondering the whole time How do you keep from getting stung?
ReplyDeleteI love fresh honey from the farm we used to get it from a neighbor when I was young and I ate my share of honey on homemade bread.
Hugs
How cool. Do you get to wear the bee clothes as the time. Mom is always eating that honey
ReplyDeleteBenny & Lily
Well I learned alot here even though my brother has honey bees..You take care.. hugs.
ReplyDeletePaula, loved the video with the bees on moving day. We have to move to better digs! I can't wait to see how much honey you get this year!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the video! Now I know what it means to be 'busy as a bee!'
ReplyDeleteSo neat. Bees are amazing creatures.
ReplyDeleteYou're brave, Paula! Do you ever get stung? We used to have bees; one daughter had bees as a 4-H project. And I can remember them swarming and coming to rest in a shade tree. One can see where the quote, "busy as a bee" comes from after working with them.
ReplyDeleteWe were suppose to pick up our two hives fist of May, but now will be end of May. The bee guy called me just this last week. The weather has been very odd for us this spring and it has slowed down where the hives are at. I am excited to get the hives!
ReplyDeleteI know next to nothing about bees, but I find insects fascinating, so I have to say, this is just COOL!! thank you so much for filming and posting it!! I hope the bees love their new home!
ReplyDelete(and I have no advice about blogs, other than just to catch up when you have the time-- that's what I do, because there's so many things out there I find interesting, I can't NOT follow them, if you know what I mean. I don't always stay caught up on the posts, but love having the links to them available for when I do have a few minutes. I have a number of interesting blogs pinned to a couple boards on Pinterest so I can click through when I feel like it, and I also follow others through the Blogger website.)
Great video! Bees are amazing. Glad you have bee hives. I'm sure you will enjoy very much the honey. I love sourwood honey on hot, buttered biscuits.
ReplyDeleteDaddy has kept bees for more than 70 years and I never tired of being with him when he's working the bees. When Daddy gets the notion to work bees, he goes to the bee lot and starts working - no shirt, pants and bedroom slippers...the bees love him.
ReplyDeleteWow....they ARE amazing creatures. I was wondering-do you have the new hive fastened so it can't be tipped over? I was thinking about bear coming and trying to get in the hive. Maybe that's not a problem-hope not!
ReplyDeleteThey look really healthy and happy Paula!!!
We love bees. Now, wasps and hornets not so much... but bees are just amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis was awesome!!!! Oh, I forgot to tell you I looked at that Save the Bees site and it was great. Love this post so much! I started a Bee Board on Pinterest (and have you seen my chicken one?) :-) Anyway, I am so surprised they don't get mad at their hive being moved, but adjust so beautifully. They are such wonderful creatures!
ReplyDeletethat is so very cool. you go girl.
ReplyDeleteFantastic animals!
ReplyDeleteAnd I just can eat how as ever from their new honey. It taste so gooooood .. :)
Lucky YOU!
Amazing video. I am learning so much about bee keeping here and have a newfound respect for these little creatures. Please continue to post and help keep us educated.
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