We have postponed grafting again so we could make some hasty splits to prevent swarming.  Our latest plan is to graft 3 weeks in advance of harvesting honey.  We will take advantage of the harvest by taking bees from our colonies to make mating nucleus colonies. These colonies will produce new queens for our colonies. … Read more

The month of April has been a busy one. The bees have been gathering nectar and pollen from maple, holly, plum, pear, apple and cherry trees; autumn olive, and various ornamental shrubs; and violets, henbit, dandelion, dead nettle and other ornamental shrubs. We performed weekly inspections; created 6 new colonies and caught a swarm. All… Read more

Last fall, we placed a tray containing a block or sugar on each hive to provide supplemental food for the bees over winter. As winter went along, the bees migrated towards the top of the hive as they ate the honey and bee bread they stored. On warmer days, they would move to the top… Read more

Despite the ongoing snowy, cold and windy weather, spring is only 3 weeks away. As time has permitted, we have been getting our equipment together and making plans for the 2025 season. We have been able to construct new hives for nucleus colonies we intend to create this spring using wood reclaimed from houses in… Read more

One common refrain from beekeepers is that if you ask any two beekeepers a question you will get three answers.  This is particularly when you discus when the beekeeping season runs.  We feel the season starts in January when we first treat for mites during the winter brood break and ends when winter preparations are… Read more

Cooler weather and alternately very dry, very wet and unseasonably warm weather have created some new challenges for our Apiary.  On sum, our bees have not brought back much resources and have been eating through the honey we have left for them, leaving them vulnerable to starvation this winter.  To counteract this threat, we have… Read more