Trog

Tales from the Hive ... Out and About

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After a week of rain and stormy winds, the sun had finally put in an appearance and, despite the low temperature – just 5 degrees on the garden thermometer – the bees were out and about, doing their hive-work, dragging debris through the mouseguards.

Having been stuck inside for so long with their legs crossed at least in a metaphorical sense, they had also taken wing and headed for a suitable spot nearby for a 'comfort break'. It was unfortunate that the local painter and decorator had also been waiting for a fine sunny day to apply the final coat of white paint to a neighbouring house. Five large, relieved colonies later, the finish was, to say the least, somewhat mottled.

Mitzzi, as was her habit, had gone scouting around to see if there was any forage worth investigating. Though the ivy down the road was strongly-scented, she judged that in such a shady spot it would be dangerous to send the foragers out. So she went in search of interesting conversation.

As luck would have it, the male beekeeper was up on the log shed roof, attempting to replace the felt before the next round of gales. She recognised him by the scent of his overalls – the same ones he used when beekeeping – and landed on his elbow. He did not notice. She tried a quiet buzz.
'Hello', he said.
'Hello', said Mitzzi.
'Nice to see you,' said he, 'I'm fixing the shed roof'.
'I'd worked that out for myself,' thought Mitzzi, but waggled her antennae politely at him without replying.
She tried again, 'I was wondering if you'd like to discuss the symbiotic relationship between bees and beekeeper.'
'Well, it's lovely to see you but I really must get on', said he, not understanding her at all.
'Sym-bi-o-tic …' said Mitzzi.
'Off you go', said he, giving her a gentle prod with his finger.
Thorougly miffed, Mitzzi flew straight home, concluding en-route that the male of the human species must be as dim as a drone. She thought that when the next sunny day arrived she would try an experiment to see if the female version was any better.

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Comments

  1. gavin's Avatar
    Ha! *This* particular male of the species can indeed speak bee. You'll need to come to Glenluce on Monday to find out what I mean. Or Oban perhaps in March, I forget.
  2. Trog's Avatar
    I'll let Mitzzi know next time I see her!

    One of these days I'll have to give the 'back story' of why she's lived somewhat longer than she should! It involves a blue box ...
  3. chris's Avatar
    Spent the morning with an image in my mind of a bee trying to cross each leg with all the others.
  4. Trog's Avatar
    A mathematician might like to work out all the possible permutations!
  5. Jon's Avatar
    Mitzzi must be a native bee - reputed to live longer.
    Either that of she has access to a mini Tardis.

    I saw a few of mine returning with pollen today and it was only around 6c.
    I'm sure quite a few got chilled and didn't make it home.
  6. Trog's Avatar
    She is!

    I didn't have a chance to see if mine were bringing in pollen but fished two out of the horse's water bucket, dried them out in the warm kitchen, then released them to find their way home! Otherwise it was a day of lugging firewood! We still have ivy flowering, though.
  7. Jon's Avatar
    I noticed on a walk last week that there is still an amazing amount of ivy in flower.
    It look like the current dip in temperature will put an end to foraging for 2010 though.
    Mine have been bringing in masses of pollen on days when the temperature has been around 10c
    There was a day a couple of weeks ago when it briefly reached 14c and the hive activity was like midsummer.
  8. EmsE's Avatar
    Hi Trog, I think Mitzzi has just found her first fan. I've just read all the tales from the hive to my daughter & she loves them- Looking forward to the next instalment & learning more about Mitzzi.
  9. Trog's Avatar
    Thanks, EmsE; I've only just found this. Just about to post another tale!