Today I went back into my hive, created from nuc last Saturday. I learned how much I don't know.
I have read half a dozen books cover to cover, watched youtube videos by the score, read forum discussions, both the current and the archived. I have taken multiple classes and attended talks on subjects I had no clue even existed.
And I feel so lost.
Today I learned that I have no fear of the bees. I can be at the hive with no gear and be okay. BUT, as soon as I start looking at the frames I become utterly terrified. Terrified that I will kill the queen or convince the bees to leave. Out of the five frames from the nuc, I got the first three out and took pics of both sides so I could leisurely look for the queen. I took pics of the last two frames but my hand was shaking so bad I got nothing usable.
Today I learned that I need at least two more hands to look in a hive and take pics.
Today I learned that all my reading hasn't taught me to understand what I am seeing. For example, in this photo, I see queen cells. I have read that it might be a generality but is definitely not an absolute, that queen swarm cells hang off the bottom and supersedure cells are on the face. But I learned that I really don't understand what this means. Do the queen cells mean my bees are taking precautions or are the unhappy with the queen who supposedly was introduced and determined to be laying? Is the queen, who I can't find, going to be replaced? Should I do something about this?
Today I learned that I don't know enough to recognize brood. I have read about brood, uncapped and capped. I have been following the current threads on laying workers. I love the photos and see the multiple eggs. But when looking at my frames, I see nothing I recognize or understand.
What should I be seeing on this frame? Is the corner capped honey like I suspect? I have many sides (4) that contain only this so I labeled it honey. But why is it grayish? Is something wrong with it? And the nice yellow looking stuff next to it? Is that more honey or is that the brood I am looking at?
Today I learned I might not be cut out for this.
Dena
Tomorrow I plan on waking up and reading more and finding more pictures of what things look like. Tomorrow I plan on learning more about bees than I know today. Tomorrow.