Beekeeping in my family

While I'm the first person in my generation to keep bees, it turns out my grandfather's sister Cordelia kept bees down in the mountains of Virginia. My aunt told me about it when I visited this year. Bees were kept in "gums," hollow logs. Swarms were "controlled" by banging on pots and pans.

Seems Cordie's attraction to bees skipped a few generations. My grandfather loved tulip poplar comb honey, but was himself afraid of bees, as are my aunts. I sent one of my aunts a picture of me, in a short sleeved t-shirt, jeans, hat, and glasses holding a frame of bees. I'm not sure if they think I'm odd, brave, or a throwback. All three may be true.

I do have a few tulip poplars growing on my land, though they aren't common here in Upstate NY. A couple of trees aren't enough for a crop, but I may get a taste or two out of it.