Rumor has it that 80% of new beekeepers will quit within the first two years. I don’t know how accurate that estimate is. Like other statistics related to beekeeping, it seems to survive with no one keeping score. Beekeeping has a romantic aspect that attracts a wide following, but the day-to-day life of a beekeeper […] Read more
When I think of a bee, I imagine something fluffy and cute. But this bee doesn’t fit the image, looking more like a space rover, examining the terrain with thick antennae and marbled eyes. Although brown and yellow, from a distance the bee appears eerily translucent. Last week I was kneeling on the eewie-gooey forest […] Read more
Animal lovers have a lot in common. It’s the cat’s blanket or the dog’s rug, so don’t touch it! The same goes for bee lovers. In this case, the mason bees requisitioned a garbage can for their personal use. And the former owner of the garbage can, Anna Poladian-Prior of Eldersburg, Maryland, issued a similar […] Read more
If you live in a place where honey bees are not native—such as the Americas, Australia, or New Zealand—then planting native species specifically for honey bees doesn’t make much sense. After all, honey bees did not evolve to live on those plants. The best reason for growing native plants is to provide forage, building materials, […] Read more
No doubt about it, beekeeping has made it into the mainstream of American life. You can now order a complete beekeeping kit—instructions included!—at Costco. Or in some places, like here in Olympia, you can walk into your local warehouse and pick one up. For just $274.99 at the warehouse or $299.99 online, you can get […] Read more
I’m hesitant to report overwintering success until April 15, but with only two days left, I’m elated to be at one hundred percent. There were a few times in mid-winter when I was unsure about two of my colonies, but I trusted my IR camera and left the bees alone. My main interest in honey […] Read more
I have to admit that before I began this website, I had never heard of a dog getting an anaphylactic reaction from a bee sting. Since then, however, many people have reported severe allergic responses in their dogs. Today, Emily Wilson of DesirablePuppy shares some of her expertise. Thank you, Emily. Introduction If you have […] Read more