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Busy as… erm… bees.
Today started as a cool morning but looking ahead to tomorrow, 85 degrees and rain the rest of the week, I took advantage of the opportunity and got into the hives. Yes, there has been a lot to do lately! Today I completed the course of antibiotics for all hives that were eligible (meaning those…
Read MoreNaming Queen bees after someone you love is a risky game!
We have been in the habit of affectionately naming hives after ourselves or people we care about. And although we were sad when we realized that queen Tyler died, we had a pretty good laugh about his inability to stand up to disease while queen Debbie thrived and produced honey for days! Queen Debbie was…
Read MoreLonely Superorganism ISO Single (unmated) Lady
Now that’s a title for the press! We’ve had a whirlwind spring and neither of us have found the time for writing a blog entry, but we sure have invested time in beekeeping! Both the gardens’ hives and our personal apiaries are buzzing! Summarizing what has happened the past few weeks into interesting tidbits, is…
Read MoreA Short Inspection and a Short Article
Spring of 2024 is one for the records books. I am pretty sure all Michiganders notice the early spring and the exceptionally well-timed show mother nature is putting on with the crab apple blossoms right now! Beekeepers know springs like these turn into adventures at every inspection. Strong hives coming out of mild winters are…
Read MoreDon’t count your Yellow and Black Chickens before they emerge!
When last we left our valiant beekeepers, the season was ending with hope on the horizon. Mites were monitored closely through the year, European Foulbrood had been treated, two of the three hives had plentiful stores and some fall feeding had occurred. We know one hive did not survive. After weeks of hefting to check…
Read MoreHive Inspections and Honey Harvest Plans
When thinking of Michigan and weather, the words unpredictable and widely variable come to mind. For 2023, we started with a mild winter, a wet spring, and a dry summer. WNEM (local TV station) noted that we had the fifth longest drought on record, mid-May through mid-June. Someone’s rain dance worked and mother nature has…
Read MoreFour Hives at the Orchard
Well, folks, it’s been an exciting year so far. The Dow Gardens orchards started with 2 hives this spring with very mixed progress including one dying out from disease (read previous entries to understand that saga). Only the queen from that hive remains as she was added to a split we made. However, a peek…
Read MoreThe Importance of Closed Apiaries: Mitigating Disease Risks in Beekeeping
This is an important entry to read in an appropriate order! Please understand why we are making such drastic decisions in the Whiting beeyard. Our previous entry will walk you, reader, through noticing symptoms in our hives that were concerning during an inspection. We went through extensive diagnostic work, research on bee disease, and lots…
Read MoreWhat is wrong with my HIVE?
We mentioned that one of the hives at the Gardens had a VERY spotty brood pattern and we were concerned and watching it. After a few inspections, this hive was lagging behind and the brood pattern was not improving. We began to worry there might be a more serious issue. This is where having more…
Read MoreSpring has Sprung in Michigan
2023 has brought a fresh start to the sister hives at Whiting, including a new location with more daylight. We are happy with the location, and this year decided to invest in building a hive stand and improve the aesthetics of the location. This week, we relied on our favorite carpenter, jack-of-all-trades Tyler, to help…
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