My Bee Story

Shelley Rice is known around town as “The Bee Lady.” Here she is pictured in writer Jennifer Oakley's backyard, as she worked to carefully and humanely remove a beehive. 

I think everyone has a bee story.

Even for the article I wrote, The Bee's Knees: Backyard beekeepers have it sweet, Buzz publisher Michael Hoffman made a personal sacrifice – by accidentally getting stung three times in the quest for perfect photos. Worth it, he says.

In the fall of 2013, I found bees in our backyard fence. We could see them buzzing about in great numbers, entering and leaving through a crack in the wood. I had never been that close to that many bees, and I had no idea what to do.

I had never been interested in bees – except to be scared of them and stay away at all costs. Full disclosure here: I really thought of bees as flying hypodermic needles, and I have a needle phobia.

I started asking friends about options and was told by many people to make sure that I removed the bees and to not exterminate them. A series of phone calls led me to Shelley Rice, “The Bee Lady,” or, as I call her, “The Bee Whisperer.”

Rice and another beekeeper came to our house, and early one morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise, carefully and humanely removed the bees. I was amazed. They were so peaceful and seemed happy. The pair worked quietly and calmly, removing several boards from our fence. Inside was a sight unlike anything I had ever seen in person: a double honeycomb in the shape of a heart.

They cut the comb at the top, where it was hanging inside the double-sided fence and lifted the comb, with bees attached, out of the fence. I got within a foot of the bees, and they were beautiful. It was clear that they had purpose, and it was awesome to see the honeycomb they made. The beekeepers hung the comb on a small length of wood inside a box, in a sling made from an old T-shirt. Then, they closed the box but left an opening, so the bees that were out working could get in and join their bee family.

The next morning, Rice came back and closed and picked up the box and took the bees to a new hive to live and prosper. She told me that bees like the smell of some places, and new bees will fly in and set up their home.

In the fall of 2015, we saw bees again flying around our fence. This time I knew what to do: The bees were again humanely removed. My 9-year-old son got to try a bite of honeycomb and taste fresh honey. It was a delicious revelation to be so close to nature and to learn to care for the bees. I hope this article will inspire others to look at bees in a new light.

Read The Bee's Knees for Buzz residents' stories about beekeeping, plus some basic facts about why bees are vital.