BEES!

BEES

We've been experimenting with honeybees at the

farm for about 2 years. The goal was to enhance

pollination of the pumpkins with the added perk

of local honey.

For some reason, our bees abandoned us last summer

and so it's rinse, lather and REPEAT until you get it right!

Gizmo and I road tripped to Claxton, GA today (yes, home of famous

Claxton fruit cakes) to Wilbanks Apiaries where they "grow"

millions of honey bees and ship all over the country.

http://www.gpb.org/georgiabackroads/evans

Came home with 12 pounds of bees, that's fourty thousand

divided into 4 "packages" of 10K each. I was the "pick up"

gal for Dr Middlebrooks, a local beekeeper. He is our mentor,

and a very patient soul at that!

Dr.Middlebrooks gets 20 grand & I get

20 grand. (first photo-the queen & I have an understanding)

The bees come in wood "packages"

covered in wire screen. Thank goodness they are contained because

they don't sound too happy!

On the porch for safe keeping for a couple of days.

We'll have a new hive at the farm & one at home!

You guys be good and stay right there!

Will post about the transfer to new hives asap.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML