As I was working on the segment, I realized how important beekeeping is to the environment and the survival of the bees.

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.

Mr. Charlie became my mentor. He has been a beekeeper for over 25 years and has over 30 hives. He is one of Georgia’s most accomplished beekeepers and his bees produce gallons of honey every season.

I would not have become a beekeeper without his encouragement and guidance. Meeting him has changed my life.

The bees had me. I next took the certification class through the Aiken Beekeepers Association, in South Carolina (aikenbeekeepers.org). They taught me a lot, like all worker bees are female. In fact the only males in the hive are drones that are there to impregnate a queen bee. (Which rarely happens) The males do no pollen collecting or hive protecting. I never knew this.

I also learned how to care for bees and the diseases they must cope with. Without Mr. Charlie I would not have had the courage to go headfirst into this challenging and rewarding hobby.

Upon graduation Mr. Charlie helped me set up my first hive. That was April of 2008. Today I have nine hives.

The hives I set up are in a multitude of colors: pink, green, yellow, aqua, lavender, blue and peach.

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).  Bees see many more colors than we do. 

And, frankly, I want my "girls" 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!

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.

Please look through the pictures (link coming soon) – you are sure to have a great big smile on your face after! Bees are hard little workers who seem to relish in having an audience!