Colorado Beekeepers Meeting

Over the weekend I attended my first meeting of the Colorado Beekeepers Association. The CSBA, which was established in 1888, convened in Longmont. It was a weekend of meet and greet, what and what ifs, why and why nots.

The first evening was an informal round table discussion with Dr. Gordon Wardell. As I settled deeply in the arm chair of novice I witnessed a scene unfold that resonated of a time gone by. The beekeepers seemed a rendition of fur trappers from long ago that descended from mountains to convene at a summer solstice. The forever need to connect with likeminded people was never more evident.

These gentlemen, and a slight smattering of double x chromosomes, didn't arrive heavy with furs or teaming with tales of wildlife encounters'. Rather they showed up, from as far off as the San Luis Valley and the great plains of Eastern Colorado, with jars of honey, tales of mites conquered, notions of viruses and old wives tales coming to fruition. The escapades shared brought about burst of hearty, robust laughter and moments of deep and heavy sighs. At the core they pondered the mystery of bees, a matriarchal society that's come under the gun and is in dire straights.

I garnered from the time spent that you must try and try, try again. The only guarantee; your observational skills, your scientific method and your patience will be tested.