Henry is that rarity in local hives, a fine Irish bee who even buzzes with a brogue. The other bees, who all have Detroit accents, like him well enough, but claim to have trouble understanding him sometimes because he has "a mouth full of clover."
The financial problems in the last year appear to have had little impact on the bees. Bumble bees are among the most conservative of social insects and put most of their earnings in honey futures, which have held up well in the current market.
Joey is the most musical bee in the hive. He likes everything from classical to Soft Rock to Rap. When the farm workers play the radio in the greenhouse he always has a lot of favorites.
Because they interact with the human farm workers at Cape Abilities Farm so much, all bees are required to undergo sensitivity training to help with bee-human understanding.
The last week in July is traditionally Watersports Week among the bees at Cape Abilities Farm. The hives compete in swimming, sailing and water polo. Leftover irrigation water provides an excellent setting for the competition.