Bee picture taken earlier today on the fly with my iphone - not the best quality, MYiphone needs a macro setting. I buffed this flat/soft picture out a little bit with some text and an arrow graphic to make it easier.
Today I was over at Kevin Crossland's place getting his bees dialed in when I was pleasantly surprised to run into a drone or two. It has been an amazing year in many ways for the bees; one reason bee*ing the amount of drones we created by using the J-frame technique earlier in the year. The other great thing is how long the drones have been sticking around. Last year at this time all my drones got the boot around the end of May so to be still seeing them in late September is a real thanksgiving. The late season drone is a very good indication that it has been a honey bumper-crop year for the colony, or the girls would have run the drones out as soon as the nectar started to dry up. That, or these last few remaining drones are the gay male bees in the hive. Think about it, if you were a girl that had to live in a house with 60,000 other females wouldn't you like having a couple token males around, gay males at that? Honestly, I don't think a straight male couldn't stand all the ya-ya sisterhood if you ask me. Hell, I'd cull myself if I was one of the last drones of the season. Seriously, I'd tuck my little bee wings behind my back and jump straight off the front landing board head first. On the ladies behalf I could see why they might want a few strapping young drones around. One or two late season guys that could help with grooming varroa, stacking pollen, or even just having them around to build moral like I do around my house....
Rob, you speak in bee-bonics, I don't even know what language this is. Bee street lingo??
Bee people meet my wife Meg - she has been doing my proof reading because apparently I'm writing in bee-speak.
Rob, it's on! The picture of Serge with the old analog camera is worth more than gold....time to consider planting those covers again since the soil temps are coming back up. Thanks for including me in the "reel of fame" Dude, don't spray your bees with 501....that crap is for the flies! Quote me "give flowers to the bees not your honey."
Posted by: Mark Griffin | February 23, 2010 at 09:44 PM