Three beehives and a wedding

Over the second May bank holiday weekend, we headed to the picturesque farm where we keep our three beehives. Two remarkable things happened that day:

1. Discovery of an Empty Beehive

To our surprise, we found that one of our hives hadn't survived the winter, with not a bee in sight. While this might sound disappointing, it was actually a relief (I'll explain why shortly).

2. A Farm Wedding Celebration

The lovely farmer's sister was getting married on the farm! A huge marquee was set up in one of the fields, with stunning silk flags adorning the hedgerows. A colourful Maypole stood tall, guests and campervans were arriving, and the bride and groom, who often greet us during our bee visits, looked effortlessly cool.

Naturally, this was a perfect opportunity to gift the happy couple some honey, fresh from the hive that day. Luckily, our busy, wee little bees had quite a store, so we didn't mind taking a frame. In Gaelic, the term for 'honeymoon' is "mi na meala," meaning the month of honey. Traditionally, Celtic newlyweds would spend a month in seclusion, drinking honeyed wine. Perhaps Sam and Emma can craft some mead from the honey produced on the land where they exchanged their vows. What a special moment to witness!

The Empty Beehive Revelation

Finding our 'mother beehive' empty meant the bees didn't survive the winter. Last summer, they had started creating natural comb underneath the hive, so we anticipated this outcome. The hive’s location was ideal for the bees but challenging for us—no vehicle access, nestled in a bramble jungle up a steep hill. Harvesting honey was almost an initiation ritual. The practical task of beekeeping, balancing on a palette above waist height, was daunting, and we had been thinking of moving the hive anyway. Thus, discovering the hive empty, with lots of fermented honey and a small wax-moth outbreak, but no stray bees to evict, was an oddly jubilant occasion. An empty hive is much easier to move than a full one!

Thriving Beehives

The other two hives overwintered successfully. One housed a swarm from last year, and the other was an extraction. Both had laying queens, were bringing in pollen, and were quite calm. Overall, it was a fantastic beekeeping day, one I'll cherish for a long time. Best Beekeeping Day Ever! 🥰

Congratulations to the newlyweds! 💕🐝