Bees Part 2

Long live the QUEEN!

The story continues as we have completed hive

installation in both gardens...home and farm.

It is an interesting story, but here is the short version.

Catch me with a glass of wine and I'll lay out the

whole adventure.

We accidentally smashed the "cage" holding one of the

queens, thought we were sunk. Dr. Middlebrooks

(bee mentor) shows up to "hive the bees" and who is

hanging on to the outside of the bee package? Yep,

MIA QUEEN!

Great time learning about the bees. Read all you want, but

there is nothing like doing it yourself!

Here was our fun evening with Mentor Middlebrooks!

Dr.M is holding the "package" of 10K bees...

so calm! They were place into their new English

Garden Hive.

This is the Queen who never left!

The bees were thirsty and took sips

of our sweat...

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Home Garden Catch Up...

This is supposed to be "home garden" catch up, but thought I'd throw in that the bees at the farm are doing great!

Once again, it's so good to come home, jump out of the car, and head to the garden! My tomatoes are producing like crazy. Especially the "Sungold" variety. I picked a shirt full this evening(bottom pic). The "Brandywine" tomato is huge, but not yet pink. Will wait.

Our "Royal Burgandy" bush beans are flowering. The okra has little flowers and tiny okra pods! These(left) are the "Red Noodle" beans that will cover the arbor!

Picked a couple of tomatoes from the patio tom I stuck in the ground.

Here are some pics of tonite's harvest...

Oh, many thanks to Zack who tended my garden while I was away for 5 days! The grass is dead, but the garden is green!!

see you.

ML

The Great Sunflower Project '09

I participated in the Great Sunflower Project last year, and decided to do so again this year. My sunflowers at home are not quite open. The project is really about bees. Bees are critical for pollination and thus, producing fruit. The research is conducted to find out more info on bee activity in community and home gardens.

You can participate by planting your own sunflower seeds and downloading the data sheet on the "Great Sunflower Project" website. They are out of seed for 2009, but again, buy your own.

Hint for Augusta: Lowe's has already put away their seed, but Green Thumb West had some yesterday!

This is a great kid activity and may keep them busy once your sunflowers open!

see you.

ML