Return of the Honey Bees

We've been reading about it, hearing about it and lamenting about it. Bees are having some problems in certain parts of the country and the world. Many are dying off because of what appears to be an unsolved mystery.

Everything from cell phone transmissions to a virus, to pesticides or even genetically modified plants seems to be suspect in the bee crisis. Adding to the mystery is the fact that no dead bodies of bees are found near hives once the "colony collapse disorder" strikes. Experts say the problems can be far reaching if the bees continue to disappear. Bee pollination is important to fruit and vegetable production as well as to a wide range of animals and birds.

I don't know the full story behind the hives that reappeared after a winter's absence in Taylor's field across the road from our house, but I was glad to come home yesterday afternoon to see those familiar white boxes. We have a jug of honey in the cupboard produced last year by the owner of those hives. He's a second generation beekeeper, and last year while working with his hives, he told me the bees were suffering from a disease, so he was giving them some sort of treatment.

Apparently, his bees are doing okay this spring. We'll keep our fingers crossed, and we'll enjoy having them over for their frequent summertime visits. Yesterday, as I drove into the driveway, got out of the pickup to get the mail and walked back across the road, I could hear a distinctive dull roar. Bees were buzzing to their heart's content. It was a good sound.

Later, as I walked along the flower boxes located around our front yard deck, I could see that several had already come to visit. At least half a dozen were cruising over a spreading white flower and happily doing whatever honey bees do. Mary Taylor told me last summer that the crops, both garden and field, thrive in areas where honey bees dare to tread. So, we're thrilled to see their return.

We'll also be thrilled if the beekeeper can keep ahead of whatever this mysterious dilemma seems to be. After all, it's his livelihood, and it will be nice if he can continue nurturing the bees and helping nurture all that benefit from their work.