Bees, Boles and Bears...

Our Bees are back again, which has inspired me to write a small, random post for my friend D.R.L. - a bear of very little brains.

Some illumination from manuscripts about bees and beekeeping...

Catching a swarm...

Then releasing them into a hive...

Letting them do their thing....

And then harvesting their honey...

Whilst trying not to get stung...

Above and Below courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Someone else who likes honey...

A bear of little brains, but a great friend....

Bees and Hives...

Bees traditionally were kept in a variety of houses. The quintessential beehive shaped ones were known as 'skeps'.

They were a very inefficient way of looking after honey bees, as one had to destroy the skep and scatter the colony to get the honey out.

Skeps are still good if you want to promote pollination in your garden and provide a home for bees without wanting the honey. They also make nice garden ornaments.

They can be made from rope, or more traditionally, straw. I am going to have a go at making some for around Willowbrook, and also to sell in our park store.

They were kept in small holes in a walled garden. The holes or alcoves were known as boles (see below)

The modern moveable beehive was only invented in 1851.

Hopefully tour hives will atract a lot of honey bees, which are in decline in New Zealand thanks to the Varroa mite.