THE IMPORTANT JOB OF CAPPING THE HONEY

Pictured above are the "honey cappers," from what I can tell.

So much beauty to behold. And the smell of hive fresh honey in the making is tantalizing. As I write this, my hands are saturated in the yummy aroma from working with the frames during a 2nd inspection. Since I was taking time to photograph, I only inspected half the frames on my first inspection because I didn't want to leave the hive exposed too long . I don't know how long inspections can safely take. I could watch for hours, but I know the hive loses heat and the disruption of pulling apart their home must cause some distress. I've read that inspecting too often can make them feel unsafe enough to cause them to swarm. That means they leave me to seek a new home. I would be devastated if my bees ever felt like doing that.  On my second exploration, I focused on the frames I missed before, and also tried to really see what individual bees were doing. 

 I didn't use the smoker or a bee suit again. I listen to the sound coming from the hive after I take off the lid. There's a calmness to the tone. I talk to them while I'm moving apart the frames along the edges. I'd already spent time with them earlier in the day and they are at ease with me clicking my camera and having my lens inches from their faces. They even hover over me waiting to land if I'm blocking their landing strip.

I turned this one into a 9 frame hive instead of 10 to give them more room.

I am mesmerized by them. They each have duties and they all seem so focused and so at peace with themselves and their colony.