The loss of the honeybee habitat due to human elements is actually leading to the inevitable extinction of the bee if we all do not do something to help.

The bees had me. I took the certification class through the Aiken Beekeepers Association, in South Carolina (aikenbeekeepers.org).

Through the class, I learned a lot.  Did you know all worker bees are female? In fact, the female worker bees do all of the work for the hive.  The only males in the hive are drones whose sole purpose is to mate with a virgin queen bee (which rarely happens).  The males do not collect pollen or protect the hive, they do no work in the hive at all.

Upon graduation I set up my first hive, in April of 2008. Today I have ten hives. The hives I set up are in a multitude of colors: pink, green, yellow, aqua, lavender, blue, pumpkin and peach. Sometime the "girls" think they are in Charleston on Rainbow Row.

Many people have asked why I did not paint my hives the traditional white. Most people think hives must be white, they do not.  You can paint your hives any color but black or red (bees do not see the color red and in the summer black makes the hives too hot).  Bees see many more colors than we do.  

And, frankly, I want my bees to have the most colorful hives in town. My "girls" also have matching umbrellas in the summer to ease the hot afternoon sun. I have taken a little ribbing about the umbrellas but the girls like them and so do I!

Over the last 5 years I have been learning how to care for bees.  I have also studied more about the pests and diseases they must cope with. Beekeeping is peaceful, powerful and beautiful. Most beekeepers share certain traits, such as, they tend to love animals, enjoy caring for plants, have gardens and are very curious about nature and living organisms in general. I think it is just respectful to do the best for them.

Bees must eat about six pounds of honey to secrete a pound of wax. Wax is the most expensive thing the bees produce. For every 100 pounds of honey a beekeeper harvests, only one to two pounds of beeswax is produced. Some of the uses for beeswax are: candles, lip balm, lotion bars, beading, polishes & waxes, jewelry, basketry, batik, blacksmithing, candy making, crayons, dental floss, ear candling, earplugs, lubricant, sewing  and dreadlocks to name a few.

Photographing the bees has become an unexpected side-joy of my hobby. The bees are remarkable subjects. They are very photogenic little creatures and I find a great new photo opportunity every day.

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I am also a member of Clarks Hill Beekeepers. We are a new and growing club.     Anyone intrested in bees may attend. Please vist  the site at www.clarkshillbeekeepers.org