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   I took up bee keeping as a hobby about four years ago. My first experience with bees was catching a wild swarm. I thought I was providing a happy home for them with a new hive placed in a shady spot to protect them from the summer’s heat. It did not take long before I discovered bees prefer a hive in full sun. I went to check on them one day and they had packed up and left. I decided I needed to learn a bit more about bee keeping before I tried it again. With the help of a mentor, Wayne, and a course of study, I learned I did not know anything about bees. With much more studying and help from Wayne, I have managed to keep my bees in their hives and even got some honey. With the first hive out growing their space and catching another wild swarm, by last summer, I was up to three hives. Doing various things such as routine checks and removing frames full of honey, I have averaged getting stung once or twice each year. The sting would hurt for a few minutes and itch for a couple of days, but that was the extent of my reaction. That changed last fall.

   One afternoon, while driving by the hives, I decided to stop and see what kind of pollen they were bringing in. For some reason, a bee decided to fly out and sting me. I was surprised as they had always been unconcerned when I stopped by and even did not mind when I opened the hives. I did not think much about a sting on the wrist as it seemed no different than any other bee sting. Within minutes, my neck started to swell, and I became short of breath. I made it to the house and passed out as I stepped in the door. My wife got some Benadryl into me and kept me conscious as we made a quick trip to the emergency room. They gave me a shot of epinephrine, and I was fine after a half hour or so. Needless to say, this upset my wife in no small way. She wanted me to get rid of the bees immediately. The emergency room doctor agreed with her, but I could not bring myself to just sell them. It would be like selling one’s friends.

   My son in Texas wants to start bee keeping so when he has the chance, he is going to come get them. He is currently in the process of building a new house so it might be a few months before the bees get moved.

   In prior years, during warm weather, I would check on the bees about once each week, opening the hive to make sure everyone happy and healthy. Even during the winter, on a rare warmer day, I would open the hive and give them extra food when I was checking them. Since my reaction to the bee sting, this has all changed. Last fall, I put insulation around the hives and did not look at them until this weekend. Over my wife’s objections, I had to see how they were doing after a long winter cooped up in their hive. I got my emergency kit of drugs, and with my wife along for emergency rescue, I donned my bee suite and went down to see how they were doing.

   I opened the first and smallest hive. Last year, it had been a weak hive and I would not have been surprised if the whole hive had died during the winter. To my surprise, the hive was almost full of bees with new honey, baby bee eggs, and brood, all in the right places. The second hive, one that had been started from splitting the original hive, also looked strong and healthy. The third and oldest hive was also full of bees. It has the main hive body with two supers on it. It had a lot of bees in it last year when I checked but looked to be nearing capacity this year.

   By being forced to leave my bees to their own devices, I have learned all my diligence and care may not be necessary. They seem to be getting along just fine without extra food and my opening their hive to check on them every week. I think I miss the interaction with the bees more than they do.

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