That’s right. Just when I thought I’ve seen everything, I received these photos of an awesome bee coop from Jane and Rainer Peters in Cariboo, B.C. It works like this: Chickens on one side, bees on the other, with a utility room in the center. Jane writes: We have struggled over the past few winters […] Read more
Every year new hobby beekeepers—those who have never harvested honey nor overwintered a colony—want to know if they should buy an extractor. It’s a personal call, but if you are asking my opinion, my opinion is “Are you kidding?” Worse, soon-to-be beekeepers sometimes order the extractor along with the first hive. Talk about putting the […] Read more
I recently found this ugliness on a red huckleberry bush. I have never seen such a thing in my life, and I managed one quick photo before it flew away. It turns out to be Myopa rubida, also known as the red thick-headed fly—a name as hideous as the insect. What little I’ve been able […] Read more
I just love to see other beekeepers’ hives, so I was happy to receive these photos from new beekeeper Kevin Sirovy. Kevin employed some creative ideas and ended up with attractive, functional hives. He writes: I know you have already received a bunch of kudos for this type of roof [gabled and ventilated], I’m just going […] Read more
Here’s a creative idea for honey sales. Herb Lester of Tennessee designed this garden hive to use as a display for his honey. He plans to place his products on top of the hive and sell them directly from there. I think it will be a great conversation starter, especially for those customers unfamiliar with […] Read more
You have probably heard by now that 25,000 bumble bees were killed last Saturday in a shopping center parking lot in Wilsonville, Oregon. The parking lot is home to 55 European linden trees which were sprayed for aphids in spite of being loaded with bumble bees. The Oregon Department of Agriculture said, “tests on bees […] Read more