Welcome back to the buzzing world of beekeeping! In this follow-up blog, I delve into my experiences and reflect on my mistakes during the first two years of my apiary. Join us as we explore the colorful personalities of the queens, Beeyonce, Lil Kim, Queen Elizabeth, and Goldie, while unraveling the valuable lessons learned along the way.

Year One Mistakes and Lessons:

Reflecting on the early days of my beekeeping journey, I candidly admit to a critical mistake: starting with only one hive. While initial success may have provided a sense of accomplishment, it also instilled a false sense of security. The absence of a comparative hive left me ill-equipped to identify potential issues that might have arisen. As a new and eager beekeeper, observing and learning from different hive dynamics would have been invaluable. The first lesson learned, therefore, lies in the importance of starting with multiple hives to gain a broader perspective on colony behavior and performance.

In the world of beekeeping, mistakes are often accompanied by valuable lessons. One such lesson came to light during an evening spent in the apiary, observing what initially appeared to be new bees on their orientation flights. To my dismay, it turned out to be a case of robbing, where bees from other hives attempted to steal resources from the Red Colony.

Understanding the risks associated with robbing, I quickly took action to protect Beeyonce and her hive. In my haste to assist, I neglected to suit up, resulting in a painful sting to the neck. So the next lesson learned lies in the importance of always wearing proper protective gear and a lesson I would need to learn again!

Rapid Growth and the Super Dilemma:

At the onset of the second season, the Red Hive, led by the remarkable Beeyonce, displayed remarkable progress. They filled out the frames much faster than the previous year, giving me a false sense of confidence. I should have realized they did not have to build out all the wax frames as they did the first year. Swarming was possible since they were running out of room in the broad box. Hoping to prevent swarming, I added a honey super—a box placed above the brood boxes for honey storage—to provide them more space. However, Beeyonce and her crew remained uninterested in the super, and signs of swarming began to emerge. When they built out queen cells near the bottom of two frames, I realized the urgency and decided to perform my first-ever split. A split is a process of dividing a colony to create one or more additional colonies. However, despite her white dot marking her birth year, my lack of experience hindered me from locating Beeyonce among the thousands of Italian Honeybees. Determined to proceed, I carefully selected frames with new queen cells and transferred them, along with five frames of bees and resources, to the new split, the Gold hive.

The Split Dilemma and a Painful Sting:

To prevent the bees from returning to the Red Hive, I closed off the Gold hive for three days and strategically placed a tree branch in front to force the bees to reorient to the new location. For those concerned about me locking the bees in for three days, keep in mind bees stay in the hive all winter, so three days is not bad. On the third day, I was headed out of town and had a flight to catch early in the morning, so I did not suit up; major mistake! When I removed the entrance blocker, the Gold Crew emerged in a flurry, and I suffered a kamikaze sting on my lip. Ouch!

It helps to be able to laugh at yourself?. What was funny was how my employees reacted when they saw my lip. Some shook their heads, while others just flat-out laughed.

Unfortunately, despite taking one for the team, most of the bees flew back to Beeyonce and the Red Colony, leaving the Gold Colony without enough bees to sustain itself, so they failed to raise a new queen. Upon inspecting the colony, I noticed their dwindling numbers and decided to steal a frame of young bees from Queen Elizabeth’s Blue Colony. Additionally, I purchased a new queen to salvage the fate of the Gold Colony.

Personalities of the Queens: Beeyonce, Lil Kim, Queen Elizabeth, and Goldie

Within the buzzing world of beekeeping, each queen possesses a distinct personality that shapes the dynamics of her hive. Year two was the year of expansion as I attempted to expand the apiary. At the start of my second season,  I added three additional queens. Let’s dive into the fascinating stories of Beeyonce, Lil Kim, Queen Elizabeth, and Goldie.

Beeyonce: The Resilient Matriarch

Initially, I had two names to choose from; Lil Kim, the original Queen Bee, or the reigning Queen Bee, Beyonce. After seeing the attendant bees doing a waggle dance near the queen, how could I not name her BEEyonce? As the inaugural queen of the Red Hive, she proved to be a resilient and strong leader. Her lineage extended through the generations, with her daughter assuming the throne after her reign. Beeyonce’s hive thrived under her guidance, showcasing her innate ability to nurture and sustain her colony.

Lil Kim: The Ambitious Green Hive Leader

I purchased two nucleus colonies at the start of the 2022 season. One had a usually small queen, so the name Lil Kim seemed appropriate for the little queen of the Green Hive. She revealed a determined and ambitious spirit, and her hive flourished under her rule, symbolizing growth and vitality. Lil Kim’s hive was the largest colony at the end of the season going into the winter. She was a small but determined beauty.

Queen Elizabeth: The Regal Blue Hive Monarch

The Blue crew was extremely aggressive. They always had several guard bees monitoring the entrance, and if you opened up their hive, it would not be long before they showed their frustration. Protecting their hive was a priority, so due to the royal blue color of the hive and their aggressive posture, I named their queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth embodied a regal presence and a sense of order as ruler of the Blue Hive. Her hive reflected a disciplined and structured approach to beekeeping, and by the end of the season, they were the second largest colony behind Lil Kim and crew.

Goldie: The Tenacious Queen of the Flow Hive

Goldie, the queen of the Gold Hive, played a pivotal role in the evolution of the apiary. She built up and saved the Gold Hive. As a resilient and tenacious queen, Goldie showcased her adaptability and determination to thrive despite her challenges. The Gold colony lived in an eight-frame hive, while all her counterparts ruled ten-frame colonies. This helped her quickly build out the frames and grow the colony.

Feeding Woes and Queenly Triumph:

I encountered one final mistake as winter approached: improperly feeding the two largest colonies throughout their first winter. Recognizing the importance of sustaining their strength, I introduced internal feeders to the Green and Blue Colonies, given their substantial size.

Ironically the two hives I fed did not survive the winter, while the two I left on their own survived. The lesson here is two-fold; watch how much honey you take, and if it is warm enough (above 60 degrees), check on your hives periodically during the off-season. Finally, I will use a different style feeder this coming winter.

Conclusion:

Reflecting on my first two years in beekeeping, I find solace in the valuable lessons learned and the stories that unfolded within my buzzing world. The experiences with supers, swarming, unexpected stings, and queenly triumphs shaped me as a beekeeper and deepened my appreciation for the intricate lives of these fascinating creatures.

Stay tuned for the next volume as we explore whether Goldie can work her magic and bring back the Green Colony as she did the Gold Colony. Does the Gold Colony raise a new queen from Goldie’s eggs? If so, what shall we name her? Also, what shall we call Beeyonce’s daughter? I have a few names in mind, but I would love to hear some of your suggestions in the comments. “Bee” sure to check us out, like, and follow us on Instagram.