Rain, Bees and Helen Mirren

 Rain has come at last! Almost an inch in a day. The sky was impressive, just wonderful to watch.  There was even some thunder. Though it's not enough to make a huge change, the pond is merely dampened, it's a relief. It could also mean Spring has come. Already the trees are sending out green leaves, and almost overnight the flowers are budding. The month of dryness is broken.

 The sky was layered with dramatic energy. Sometimes it poured, sometimes it misted. It made a wonderful change from the day after day sameness of sun, heat and cracked earth.

Spring Can't Be Far Away

Today was Athena's turn to host Bee Club. Bee Club is like a Book Group only with a Show & Tell of your hives. Always the hostess, there were juices, nuts, tea and Athena made Spanakapita - little triangular Phyllo spinach and feta deliciouosums. Yum! I have a hive too, but I'm only a Newbie member there on an observing basis. My hive is small, only about 15,000 bees estimated. It was taken from behind the house shutters and moved to it's hive. Bee people are very friendly and welcoming. Hopefully one day I'll be as hands on as Athena and Latchy are. I'm a WANNABEE!

 The subject of todays hive demo was a hive division. Athena and Latchy had taken one large hive and split it, putting some of the old hive in a new empty hive. The division was a success. The new hive birthed a Queen and there were then two hives. If there had been no Queen the split hive probably would have died. A healthy hive can average 50,000 bees.

 I am still feeding my bees with honey water every day. I worry they'll have enough to eat, that they're too hot (should I get an umbrella?). Can a Facebook Bee page be far behind? LIKE! I can ALMOST relate to the story a Bee Club member told, how she caved to her need to be nurturing to the point where her interference resulted in her  continually driving her bees away with her over involvement. She kept opening the hive to check they were OK till they got irritated, cleaned out the hive and split. A Bee Hover Mother!

Athena is helping with the Vendors Plaza project for Cruz Bay. Her plan is to grow organic fruits and veggies and sell them from a wheeled cart both out by her home on the East End  and in the Vendor Plaza. She's been planting fruit trees - mango, guavaberry, limes, avocado, banana. She talked about making soaps, lotions and body products from honey. This is something the Bee Club can do and have a booth at the Plaza. 

Athena has big plans and I love every one of them. Pretty much. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

~~~~ BEE TRIVIA  ~~~~

 Number of bees equal to the weight of one M&M's plain chocolate candy?

9-10 (did someone actually weigh them?)

What colors can bees see that people can't?

Ultra-violet

Bees dance to communicate, what music do they like?

I'm not answering this one, silly.

 

Lizard Springtime Love

This is random - Yesterday I heard the actor Helen Mirren likes to come to STJ and rent this private little house down by the water. She's not here now. 

Last night George was excited and insisted we contact her about representing our conservation group. George goes for the older woman.