Defending the hive from other bees.

Honeybees work to protect their home and colony welfare is top priority.  In this video, you will see a worker honeybee near the middle of the front, she is repelling another worker who most likely does not belong to her family.  Protecting the colony from robbers is very important this time of year.

Fall rush

Busy flight afternoons like this one will soon end as frost will kill most of the nectar producing plants. The bees seem to know this and rush to harvest.

Fall pests

Yellow jackets and other wasps, as well as, spiders can become bothersome pests for our hives during the fall.  Strong hives will fight them off.

Early Fall Check

The aster and golden rod is still blooming.  Bees are busy bringing in pollen and nectar .  Now is the time for beekeepers to check their hives for proper winter stores.  You do not want to wait until the weather gets too cold, the bees will be reluctant to take the sugar water quickly.

Honeybee Education

One of the most interesting things about being a beekeeper is sharing the love of bees with others.  In spite of recent media attention given to bees, many people still know very little about the importance of honeybees.  You can make a sign like this for yourself and help promote the bee !

Pollen Gathering is important

In addition to gathering nectar for winter food stores, I want the bees to be able to collect a variety of pollen.  This can be used to keep the last round of babies before winter well fed and stored to use in late winter when the queen resumes laying...usually right about the end of December or early January. (A time when natural pollen is not usually available)

Bees on Buckwheat

I love planting a small patch of buckwheat in my vegetable garden after the corn has finished.  It will bloom in 30 days and gives the bees something to do when not much else is available here. (Buckwheat should not be planted where grazing animals can get to it !!)

Honey bee working buckwheat blossom

Small patch of buckwheat beginning to bloom