It all began last fall when my husband announced that the hive in the backyard had to go. Truth is, I too was tired of it. Although the bees had a sweet disposition most of the time, there were moments when they lacked restraint. The hive was close to the house, tucked under the eave, […] Read more
I just love it when people go crazy with their hive design or decoration. This Layens hive was painted by Michele Levani of Charleston, South Carolina. She explains: I’m a professional artist and muralist. A client just hired me to paint a scene on one of his hives. This is my first time working with […] Read more
It’s official: I overwintered all my colonies once again. In fact, in seven of the last ten years I managed to pull every single colony through the bleak northwest winter. Having said that, the questions I’m asked are always the same: “What mite meds do you use?” “How long do you feed?” “What is your […] Read more
Yes, you read that right. I have an irritating dog. I mean, he doesn’t think he’s irritating, but I certainly do. Yesterday, I had just planted a new bush, raked smooth the adjoining soil, and put away the tools. When I came back, the dog was standing on my work and peeing on the pristine […] Read more
You just installed a package of bees in a brand new hive, but the bees don’t seem settled. You check on them the next day and they are the same. Then on the third day, everything is quiet. No sounds come from the hive, and no big-eyed faces peer through the entrance. When you remove […] Read more
Here is an unusual sight, one I’ve never seen before. This virgin queen, with severely deformed wings, was spotted by beekeeper James Burge in Santa Barbara, California. James explained that he was doing a trap-out for a friend. He used brood, eggs, and worker bees from another hive in the trap box so the bees […] Read more
Many beekeepers are getting a resurgence of winter weather just as their package bees are arriving. The question, then, is how long can you keep bees in a shipping container? For best results under normal circumstances, you want to install your bees as soon as possible. The same day you get them is best, especially […] Read more