My Buzzers Honey

03/03/2026

Hi bee buddies

Get a load of this bee security!

Bee safe and warm 🐝

In Kenya, farmers face challenges from elephants raiding crops like maize and other crops, which can devastate harvests.

To address this, they build beehive fences by hanging beehives along field edges, connected by wires. Elephants, fearing bee stings on sensitive areas, avoid these buzzing barriers, reducing raids by up to 86.3% in peak seasons. This humane method not only protects farms but also allows farmers to harvest and sell “elephant-friendly honey” for extra income.

Over nine years, studies near Tsavo East National Park confirmed the fences’ success, though droughts can lower bee activity and effectiveness. It’s a smart way to foster peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.

25/02/2026

Morning bee buddies,

This is funny, but actually, not far from the truth!

Seeing them girls (because at this time of year they are ALL girls) is a real marker that the warmer weather is coming. 😀😀😀

Bee safe and warm 🐝

21/02/2026

They live!!!!!!!!!

Well, one of them does.

Hutch is having a gentle ‘buzz’. Bees can go for two months without having a poo! When the weather gets a bit warmer, the first order of business is getting out for a ‘cleansing flight’ (they are very clean girls and won’t poo in the hive).

The other hive may just be a bit slow getting started… I won’t be opening them up (I don’t think anyone would want the roof taking off our houses at the moment) but fingers crossed.

24/12/2025

Hi bee buddies,

The buzzers are all snuggled up and ready for Christmas.

Wishing you a happy Christmas from the Apprentice and myself.

See you on the other side !

01/12/2025

Morning Bee Buddies

This was sent to me from a friend and is tooooo good not to share with you.

Wishing you a happy first day of the advent season and see you all on the other side.

Merry Christmas from Myself and The Apprentice.

Bee safe and warm.

🧺🐝 ’Twas the Night Before Christmas… Beekeeper Edition By Sweet Stingers Honey 🍯🎄

’Twas the night before Christmas,
And out in the yard,
Not a creature was stirring—
Not even the guards.
The colonies sat there in silent, wrapped snug in their hives,
Bees clustered tight for a long winter’s nap.

The smokers were hung by the shed door with care,
In hopes that warm springtime soon would be there.
Our veils and our jackets were cleaned and hung right,
For I’d checked the bees earlier—
all tucked in for the night.

But just as I settled with cocoa in hand,
I heard a faint buzzing roll over the land.
I stepped to the window and peered through the frost—
What could it be, a forager that was lost?

Then out in the moonlight, so gentle and bright,
A sleigh dipped and drifted like a drone in mid-flight.
With a beekeeper driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a heartbeat—it must be St. Ambrosia!

His suit wasn’t red but a fine canvas tan,
Smoke curls in the air from the torch in his hand.
He landed so softly near Hive Number Three,
Whispered, “Easy now girls… it’s only just me.”

He checked all the entrances, cleared out the dead bees,
Tapped gently on boxes and brushed off the leaves.
He lifted each lid with a seasoned-hand sway,
Not like any beekeeper but one of careful ways.

He chuckled, “Strong clusters you keep
Good weight on these hives.
You’ve done well this season keeper
these girls will survive.”

He sprinkled a dusting of magic bee treats,
They shimmered like snowflakes and smelled so sweet.
He left pollen patties all shaped like little bows,
And a tiny mite board with a ribbon of rose.

Then back to his sleigh, with a twirl and a glide,
He rose like a swarm on a warm springtime tide.
I heard him call out as he flew out of sight—

“Merry Christmas, dear keepers,
and to all a good night!
May your queens stay healthy
and your honey flow bright!”

26/11/2025

Hi Bee Buddies,

Well as the buzzers have all cuddled together to keep warm I thought I would get the tree down. I like a crown on the top to represent the queen. Got a new one from the Christmas market at Chatsworth (how posh am I). This tree makes me smile every time I get it out of the roof (and yes it does go back up fully decorated).

Hope you all have a buzzing Christmas (sorry, I could not help myself).

Bee safe and warm

Best wishes

Myself and The Apprentice.

24/07/2025

Afternoon bee buddies…

Just beecause this made me laugh.

Bee safe and warm.

21/07/2025

Morning Bee Buddies,

Further to my previous post about Swarmy Pete and myself taking our bee exams…..

We passed!

Despite the weather throwing wind and rain at us, we both lived to tell the tale (and that is saying something as one of us has to carry an epiPen!)

The good news is, I am now officially higher qualified than The Apprentice 😉

Bee safe and warm 🐝