Honeybees have Pockets

The pictures and writing for this blog are from a couple weeks ago. I usually post more often, but frankly I’m still a little pissed off that more people didn’t vote to save the land. If only there was a way to save the land AND make money for the schools….

Bees love African Basil.

I’m so excited about my article on beekeeping. It’s my best work ever, and I’m very proud of it. It’s in the November issue of Alabama Gardener, Arkansas Gardener, Georgia Gardening Magazine, Kentucky Gardener, Louisiana Gardener, Mississippi Gardener, Oklahoma Gardener, Tennessee Gardener and Virginia Gardener. The first sentence in the article is, “Bees are fascinating.” I should have added that they are fun to watch. I was taking the pictures for a recent blog when I stopped to watch this little lady collect pollen from an Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’.

In this picture she’s just starting to collect pollen. Notice the small off-white dot on her back leg. That’s the pollen poking out of the top of her pocket.

I got distracted by this butterfly and watched it for awhile.

About 15 minutes later I looked back to see her progress. See how much larger the off-white dot is. They can stuff a lot in those pockets. Dale enjoys sitting next to the beehive and watching the girls come home. He always reports what colors of pollen they got that day.

African Basil

This African Basil is covered with all kinds of bees. I bought it at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ spring plant sale because they told me bees love it. They were right. At first the bees ignored it completely, but lately they are all over it. They must be harvesting nectar and not pollen because their pockets are empty.

See the empty pocket? – Surely it’s not really called a pocket.

I watch them hug the stem, and then joyously shove their heads deep into the flower the way I imagine Charlie Sheen shoves his head into his bimbos’ boobies.

Next spring I’m going to get several African basils and plant them in the bee yard. Too big for my vegetable garden, they’re overflowing the sides of my 6 feet by 6 feet bed by about a foot on all sides.

If you are interested in beekeeping, get the November issue of one of those magazines and put the supplies on your Christmas list. Then look around your area for training, or go to Petals from the Past for a full day seminar on Saturday, Feb. 9th. Here’s the information from their website:
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Saturday, February 9, 2013, 9:30am Beekeeping–Getting Started- Bill Evans – Rose Hill Farm If you have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to learn the “how-tos” of keeping bees, here it is in an extensive class here at Petals. Bill Evans will teach you all you need to know to get started. Bill Evans has been keeping bees for over 20 years.  He is a member of the Alabama Beekeeper’s Association and founded the West Alabama Beekeepers Association with the Tuscaloosa County Extension ten years ago. 9:30-12:30

1. Woodenware and beekeeping tools needed to get started.

2. Bees – what to buy, where to buy them and how to get them set up.

12:30 – Lunch You may bring your own or purchase a box lunch from us for $12.00. If you wish to order a lunch please call the retail shop, 205-646-0069, by Friday, February 8, no later than 3:00pm to place your order.

1:00-4:00pm

1. Plants that attract bees

2. Pests and diseases that affect bees and what to do about them

3. Extraction – equipment needed and process to make and package honey.

Fee for this class is $5.00. Advanced reservations and payment required.