Dear Honey Bees,
I swept the snow from in front of your hive today that was leftover from the most recent storm. You didn’t come out, but then it’s been pretty darn cold. It’s not supposed to warm up for a while but I wanted the entrance to be open if you needed to take a cleansing flight (I’ll pray for a 45-degree day in a couple weeks!).
I know this doesn’t mean much to you as a honey bee, but today is the last day of 2020. It was a difficult and trying year for many humans (you recognize us in our white suits) and we’ve all been anxious to turn the page and start a fresh, new year.
Other humans had it much worse than we did, but still, our year was challenging. We all worried about a new virus that caused many people to get sick and die. You know about viruses, your colonies are attacked all the time by viruses. These viruses may cause your babies to die, or make your wings wrinkled and unusable.
We also know that you are very diligent about fighting diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. You try to keep a clean hive. You paint the inside of your hive with propolis, which has medicinal properties. You don’t let foreign bees into the hive, which can carry diseases. And when one of you gets sick (which makes your sister smell different to you), you know that she no longer can be part of your colony.
There are humans who want to find out how to keep honey bees healthy. They have discovered that viruses also are very sneaky. Some viruses affect your smell – you cannot tell when a sister is sick. In fact, the virus makes you welcome sick bees as well as foreign bees that might be sick, which helps spread the virus both within and between colonies.
The virus that’s been affecting humans this year also affects our smell and taste. in fact, that’s one of the first signs that you’re sick with the virus. Some sick humans have no symptoms, which is even more scary because these humans unknowingly are spreading the virus.
Our way to fight the virus has been to stay away from other humans, isolate, social distance — something that’s also very difficult.
You know how important other bees are — you live in a colony and you depend on everyone working together to get everything done. You would not survive by yourself.
That’s been the hard part, to be alone, especially if we humans are sick. Many humans have died alone this year and that’s the saddest thing in the world for me to think about. We need our families. We need our friends.
While we’ve all been dealing with this virus, I want you to know what a joy it has been to care for you, our honey bees, this past year. You have been a bright spot, certainty in an uncertain world.
Every time I visited the hives you were always busy doing what needed to be done. You always worked together for the common good (I wish our politicians would do that!). You always care for one another.
You made so much honey this year it was unbelievable! I was so proud of you, even though I had nothing to do with it. Congratulations! Many people have been raving about the great taste of your honey, too.
Thanks, gals, for pulling me through this year. I have learned a lot and look forward to 2021 and the lessons you’ll have for me!
Happy New Year!
Bee Lady Honey 