Happy Father’s Day Bees! (and Fathers!)

Here’s some things to think about for your apiary about this time of year–for colonies in climates similar to ours … in my opinion of course.  Beekeeping practices vary. 1)  Wish a Happy Father’s Day to any friendly drones you see.  Hopefully those will be the...

Honey Bear in Mind: Early June Questions (and Answers)

I hesitated a few seconds before I added “and Answers” to the title of this blog.  Beekeeping is often more art than science.  What I prescribe may be different from other beekeepers’ answer. The lack of black-and-white answers is a maddening thing (and one of the...

Honey Bear in Mind: Mid-May Considerations

My phone, and my colonies, are buzzing.  The phone with questions, the latter with bees.  Here are some things I suggest you bear in mind this time of year for colonies located in climates similar to SW Michigan.  Yes, this is a long post.  There’s a lot going...

Honey Bear in Mind: Most Critical Check

In the bee-ginner classes I taught this year, I said I’d be posting periodic updates of my packages’ and nucs’ progress, so you could compare and ponder whether yours were ahead or behind or what. Typically packages arrive within a few weeks of each other, and...

Honey Bear in Mind: Bees are Taxing

I’m lying.  To me, bees are anything but taxing.  But, having written a couple big checks this tax season, I’m trying to find some humor in the situation with a play on words. Speaking of playing, we played with bees this weekend, when we helped some new beekeepers...