by Hilary | Jul 21, 2022 | Gardening, Just for Fun, New Bees, Troubleshooting, Uncategorized
I have never been satisfied with my backyard apiary design. Not only does it look messy, it makes inspections challenging, especially when they are done with a group of beekeeping students. Now, with my husband Tim’s help, I am finally doing something about it!...
by Hilary | Jun 23, 2021 | Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, Troubleshooting
Honey bee swarms can land anywhere. I’ve found them on everything from beach umbrellas to garbage cans. The most convenient swarms hang from low limbs like ripe fruit, almost as if they are waiting for a beekeeper to come along. Sometimes a swarm gathers at an...
by Hilary | May 3, 2020 | New Bees, Troubleshooting, Uncategorized
A dead queen in your brand-new package of bees is never a welcome sight. It can be especially distressing to new beekeepers. Yet, it is not an uncommon problem. Read on to find out about common scenarios that could result in the death of your queen bee and what to do...
by Hilary | Jan 2, 2019 | Equipment, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, Natural Beekeeping, New Bees, Troubleshooting
Many beekeepers are intimidated by foundationless beekeeping. They aren’t sure their bees have enough time build out before winter without assistance or they worry about cross-comb. They often ask me, “Can I do a mix of some frames with foundation and some...
by Hilary | Nov 5, 2018 | Gardening, Just for Fun, Troubleshooting
Where I live, in Southern California, it’s common for wild bee swarms to move into unconventional spaces. They particularly favor owl boxes. These man-made wooden boxes, hung high in a backyard tree, are an ideal nesting location for honey bees. Many homeowners...
by Hilary | Sep 14, 2018 | Equipment, How To, Natural Beekeeping, Troubleshooting
Depending on where you live, ants can be a huge problem for your bees. Some beekeepers have mild ant problems and can get away with dusting cinnamon. For the rest of us, it’s a contsant battle protect beehives from ants! Luckily, I have come across a new system...