To really know the honey bee industry, visit an apiary or bee yard.

From a distance, you'll see a beekeeper working the hives.

Look closer, and you'll see bees landing on visitors.

Look even closer, and you'll see an individual bee going about her work.

In the camera world, it's like going from a telephoto to a macro lens. Close, closer and closest yet.

These photos were taken yesterday (March 19) at  three queen bee  producing companis in Glenn County, located some 100 miles north of Sacramento. The occasion: UC Davis bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey was leading her class of U.S. and international students on a tour of commercial queen bee producers. First stop: C. F. Koehen & Sons, Inc., in Glenn. Second stop: Heitkam's Honey Bees in Orland,  and third, Olivarez Honey Bees, Inc., in Orland.