Beehives could send woman to jail

DENVER, June 16 (UPI) -- A Denver woman said it is unfair city officials ordered her to remove three beehives from her backyard or face a $999 fine and a possible year behind bars.

Marygael Meister paid $1,500 to set up the hives in her yard after completing courses about the insects at Denver Botanic Gardens, The Denver Post reported Monday.

Meister said she got a notice from city officials this week that she is breaking the law by keeping bees in her yard.

Meister said she received a beekeeping certification after finishing the botanic gardens courses and the insects aren't hurting anything.

"Bees harm nothing that lives. They just take nectar from the flowers. They don't kill the flowers. They just help more to grow," she said.