Got my bee-hind soaked twice today!   Ahhhh.  Of course the lightning that
split the tree on the other side of the cucumber field made me jump a bit.
 After two months of drought, we are starting to catch up, with showers
almost every day this week.  Most areas have gotten some, though I talked
with one farmer who was still complaining about bone dry fields.
 
   First pesticide kill found this morning.  I smelled it before I got out of
my truck.  Lord,  I hate that smell!   Reported - and authorities will
investigate, maybe in a few days,  Ha!   Generally after a kill they are too
slow, and not even competent enough to identify the source. I'll have to do a
lot of the investigation for them.  Reduced the bee population in that yard
by fifty pounds or more.  -The first of many to come.  Disheartening.
 
   Yesterday was not a good day either.  Ursa major visited one of my
breeding yards.  I haven't been in there in the past three weeks.  I had
eight real nice hives, two of which had been already selected for raising
some summer queens.  Also I had four nucs.  I went there to get the six hives
which I could take to cukes.  We are now scratching to find enough bees for
the last late fields.
 
   Well this bear totally destroyed all but one nuc, which I was able to
salvage.  He splintered one brand new box like it was nothing, so he must
have been a big one.  I try to stay away from bear territory, but they are
moving into populated areas. (This is encouraged by our wildlife officials,
who won't give any realistic help with damage, but will severely prosecute
and call you a poacher in multiple press releases if you give 'em lead
poisoning to protect your livestock.  Should I send them a bill for the
damage?)
 
  The pollination bees are almost all out, about 50 - 60 hives to go, and I
am ready for a vacation!  It has gone a little easier than last year. We only
placed about 2/3 as many, as I did not have as many bees, due to last year's
pesticide losses.  I have been careful not to spend very much money, as I
know it's going to be a lean year.  We did prune our customer list of some
poor payers, so maybe that will help.
 
   Yesterday, we also ran over my last good smoker.  Thank God for duct tape.
 I've been an admirer of that stuff, every since I had a kid who wouldn't
stay in the seat belt.
 
   One of the farm workers said to me,  Cucumbers must make a lot of honey,
because you always seem to be putting bees out there.
When I stopped laughing, I showed him the feed honey I was putting on some of
the hives, and explaining that they were there to make the cucumbers, not to
make honey, and that I was paid for it.
 
   He thought I was storyin' him, at first, but I think I did finally
convince him.  I showed him a well pollinated cucumber and a poorly
pollinated one, side by side.
 
   We've been putting one super on each hive, just in case they find
something out in the woods.  Once in a while they do.
If the hive is light, we put two or three frames of dark honey that I saved
from last fall, in the super, so they won't starve.
 
   They are working hard on the blossoms, and we hope for a good crop year,
despite drought, and reduced acreage.  Some of the melons where we placed
bees a month ago, are almost ready, and are looking very nice.  I ought to
give the growers a sticker that says:
Bee Sweet - a Well-Pollinated Melon.
 
   I get high watching the bees do their thing.  Everything up to now was
just preparation.  Now it's time to make the connection.
 
   I think it's a noble endeavor, but a friend says, naw, you're just a pimp
for the pumpkins.  Some friend!
 
[log in to unmask]     Dave Green  PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC  29554