We are buzzing with excitement, having just extracted Aphrodite's first crop of honey! The liquid is clear gold and flavoured with a hint of lime, suggesting that the colony have been collecting pollen from the lime trees in the woods. The bees were patient as we removed frames of capped honey from the top super; the produce of their foraging throughout the spring & early summer. Under the guidance of knowledgeable apiarists, we spun the honey to extract it from the frames. The kitchen smelled divine, a sweet melange of lime and beeswax. It was magical & we feel honoured that Aphrodite & her girls have settled happily in the garden.
In fact the colony is thriving to such an extent we have had to increase their living accomodation from a single brood chamber hive to a multi-storey! On our last inspection we discovered five new Queen cells, suggesting that the colony is expanding at such a rate that they are trying to rear a new Queen and move on to a new site. With the aid of a smoker we managed to destroy the little princesses, hopefully allowing Aphrodite's reign to continue. The extended living space within the hive should alleviate their desire to move on - we will have to monitor them very carefully.
