Second session of beekeeping school tonight and I still really enjoy it. Although I do keep attracting weird people to sit by me. Tonight's candidate was prone to muttering to herself and asking questions directed at noone in particular. Fun.
I am now obessesed with finding the perfect place for my apiary. Somewhere that the bees and people can live in harmony. I might explore finding a place to keep them offsite.

Because you know you love them, here is the latest installment of bee facts:

1. Worker bees only live about 6 weeks they literally die because their wings wear out.
2. Honey is flower nectar that is carried in a bee's second stomach where it mixes with an enzyme. The nectar is then regurgitated and fanned by their wings until the water content is reduced to 17-20%.
3. It takes 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey. That's a lot of flight time.
4. A fully loaded bee can fly 6-9 mph. Empty they go up to 15 mph.
5. Bee pollen contains 50% more protein than an equal amount of beef.

And finally my favorite.

6. The queen controls the population with her "essence", a hormone, that keeps the bees calm and doing what she wants.

God I wish I could bottle and sell that. It probably doesn't work on husbands, co-workers and children anyway.