Tolstoy’s enthusiasm for beekeeping began in 1863, when he bought bees and arranged his first apiary in the wood across the river Voronka. The beehives were put among the apple trees specially planted there. Tolstoy could spend all day long at the apiary, sending short notes to his young wife: «Sonya!.. Two have swarmed. When you are through at home, send me a brazier and wax, and send a horse for me and a towel before lunch». Two years later the apple orchard across Voronka died because of mice and rabbits. Much later (in the 1900s) the new apiary appeared closer to the house, in the Red Orchard. The experienced gardener Soans (he came to Russiafrom Sweden) looked after it. The apiary still works, and every year it produces a small yield of honey.