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”
Tag Archives: workers
“I don’t usually do beehive removals in the winter.” Removal work is seasonal, I went on to explain to Chris – the guy on the other end of the line. But it isn’t just because the bees are active or not active – it is more a matter of their survivability once they have beenContinueContinue reading
Stalin with a Southern Accent
Bee suits are meant to be worn standing up. When you are standing up, the veil is held away from your face, and the double layering of the cloth of the suit falls loosely away from your body. Any angry bee with a grudge sting that manages to penetrate the first layer of the clothContinueContinue reading “Stalin with a Southern Accent”
Stop, Crorey, and Smell the Bees
Somewhere just north of town, there is a small agricultural community in the Delta region named Floweree. They have bees, too. Almost all of my removals to date have been from the walls of buildings (an occasional tree adds to the list). The walls of homes and businesses seem to be the most frequent battlegroundContinueContinue reading “Stop, Crorey, and Smell the Bees”
Gumption Trap
The Beekeep approaches the removal while all of his companions, fainting from hunger, looked on. The hum from the hive intensifies slightly, as the guard bees go on alert. The hot sun beats down on the unshaded heads of the travelers standing in the field. The beekeep sets his shoulders to the task, and beginsContinueContinue reading “Gumption Trap”
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.)”
Company Bee Blog 