Kool & the Gang had it right. It’s too hot. Too hot, lady. With temperatures at or over 100 degrees this week, my only refuge was to work in the early morning hours. This past week I scheduled a removal from a cemetery. A couple of weeks ago the tornado came through and tore upContinueContinue reading “Gotta run for shelter, gotta run for shade”
Tag Archives: Vicksburg
Panic in the suit
I love bees, and I love reading and learning and understanding more about bees. But I am no bee whisperer. One of the statements I get a lot is, “I guess you have gotten to where stings don’t bother you.” Um, nope. Not at all. They hurt like the blue blazes, and it is aContinueContinue reading “Panic in the suit”
Reputation
Sometimes, it is a good thing to be known for your work. When I was first trying to get into beekeeping, I talked to anyone I could find, trying to get the word out that I would pick up swarms and re-home them. I gave out my phone number, I made up cards and handedContinueContinue reading “Reputation”
Love on the Battlefield
The setting of the National Cemetery at the Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the most peaceful ones imaginable. The rolling loess hillside, graves in neat rows, each section terraced to provide a continuity among the gathered dead. Oak trees, expanded to their full canopied width. Magnificent magnolia trees, filled with heady blossoms. AncientContinueContinue reading “Love on the Battlefield”
Recent Arrival
“How long has the hive been there?”Whenever I am answering a request to do a honeybee hive removal for someone, I have a series of questions I ask. Did you spray them? How high are they? Are they aggressive? Are they getting inside?I just added the question above to my list, because the answer canContinueContinue reading “Recent Arrival”
Pretender to the Throne
She has no claim on this throne, but she went in, nevertheless.2 queens, 2 cages, 3 nurse bees to help out. $37.50 each.Last Saturday, I bought a nucleus hive and two queens from my mentor. (A recent flood had taken out a bunch of his ‘nucs’, and he only had one that he could sellContinueContinue reading “Pretender to the Throne”
The Beverly Carol – a B&B&B
It seems as though working at heights is my go-to job now. Once again, I had a bee removal effort in Vicksburg, where the elevation of the job just gave me pause. The entrance to this hive at the Beverly Carol – a historic home in the downtown area of Vicksburg, was high on theContinueContinue reading “The Beverly Carol – a B&B&B”
Duff Green Removal, Part 2 (Or How I learned to avoid the sting and love the bomb.)
So most of the time, when I get a call to remove bees, it is because the bees have begun to migrate inside the house.Not this time.This was the second hive removal from Duff Green, and the one that I was most worried about. With the first removal, I was able to stand, kneel, sit,ContinueContinue reading “Duff Green Removal, Part 2 (Or How I learned to avoid the sting and love the bomb.)”
First Job – FAIL (for the moment)
Last Monday I set aside the time to remove the bees from Duff Green. Quick in, quick out, two hives of bees to relocate.The result was awful. An unmitigated failure.The space is not enough to get the hydraulic lift in, said Harley. But, she said, we have some really long ladders – 60′ or so.OK.AboutContinueContinue reading “First Job – FAIL (for the moment)”
First Job of the Season
I feel a little rusty. For a while last summer, I was doing honeybee hive removals pretty regularly, and I had my toolkit together, and knew what I needed to do, and in what order. Each one presented new challenges, but I had the pieces covered.Now it has been months, and I have a littleContinueContinue reading “First Job of the Season”
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