I thought they were jars of oil.  Gold and amber, glistening in the sun on roadside stands, I didn’t cross my mind that those stacks of jars were honey.  Then we were gifted several jars shortly after our arrival.  I also started noticing boxes of hives in backyards, in fields, on trailers – everywhere.  When we were house hunting, several boxes were scattered in the backyard of one home we toured.  A colony had escaped the manmade hive and settled in a tree within reach of the children.  “If we pick this house, that hive will have to move.”  The prospective landlord shrugged.  Bees schmees.  They’re everywhere.

For years, in the United States we’ve been hearing about the plight of the bees.  They are vanishing, causing serious issues with crops and pollination.  In Romania, bees are thriving.  Last year a friend had gallons and gallons from his hives.  His honey was sorted by origin – single origin (ie clover) or multi-origin – all local, organic, raw and unfiltered.  Liquid gold.

Click on the photos below to view them in a gallery with complete captions.

This photo was taken a few days ago. The bees are out in full force, collecting from spring’s first blooms. Look closely and you’ll see the pollen collecting in the ‘buckets’ on the bee’s hind legs.

Sometimes hives are scattered throughout fields, backyards or the forest. Frequently, however, the hives on large trailers, readily transportable.

Any beekeeper could tell you think photo was taken last year. Last year, the queens were blue. Every year, someone somewhere decides what color the queen will be. All beekeepers mark the queen’s back in marker with the appropriate color. Can you find the queen?

Some beekeepers are pretty friendly with their bees and don’t feel gloves are necessary.

Inside the hive box.

Many backyards have an apiary, an protected are where hives are kept.

This is the hive we found hanging low in the backyard of a house we decided not to rent.