With the sun shining, it was the perfect moment to prepare my hives for winter before the frosty chill sets in. Though the bees are still consuming the fondant, the hives feel heavy and well-prepared. Now, the girls can rest until March.
Of course, I’ll continue to visit them—to heft the hives, ensure their entrances remain clear, add fondant if needed, and, nearer to Christmas, administer Oxalic Acid when all the brood is sealed. These little visits are a quiet reassurance, both for them and for me.
If our move to Buckinghamshire happens before spring, the bees will be transported with the utmost care. Rest assured, I’ll record the entire process—as is my habit!
Looking back on this year with my girls, it’s been a journey of highs and lows. They’ve worked tirelessly. One hive produced a queen against all odds, while another lost theirs just as unexpectedly. One colony survived a Varroa infestation, while another fell to wasps.
Beekeeping, as always, is a mixed bag—partly good, partly bad, like the curate's egg. But the deep reward of caring for them, of doing my very best to nurture their world, outweighs the heartache and amplifies the joy.
I will miss seeing them during the quieter months, but even more so, I will miss being with them. I’m mindful of the impact each inspection has on their hive’s balance; every time the lid is lifted, no matter how sunny the day, it forces them to work harder to restore the perfect conditions within. I respect their tolerance of our presence and their patience with our handling. It humbles me.
When I disappear into the apiary for a couple of hours, I’m not always inspecting them. Often, I’m simply watching—sometimes with my camera, hoping to capture the perfect shot, and other times, lost in thought, marveling at their quiet magic.
I feel profoundly blessed to be a beekeeper. To share their story through my talks fills me with gratitude, as does writing books that introduce children to the wonders of honeybees—something I didn’t fully discover until my fifties. My hope is that these lessons inspire others to see how fragile and precious our planet is, and to understand our responsibility to nurture it.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. Your support means a lot. As the year winds down, I wish you all the blessings you could hope for—this season and always.
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