Thistle Hill Apiary and Gardens

Farewell for Now

2011-02-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Thistle Hill Friends,

The end of an era has come and I will not be posting on this blog in the coming season. We have moved on to other endeavors and it is hard to keep everything up. I'll leave the blog up for a while, as I may return to it at some point down the line; but for now I won't be adding new postings.

Report on the Thistle Hill colonies

The top bar hive colony passed on a few weeks ago. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was a top bar hive -- I'm pretty sure that my error was not splitting them last spring, and they got to be such a huge colony that they did not have the room they needed to make enough honey to last the winter. I'll know more when I do an autopsy in the next thaw.

The Langstroth hive hangs on. The cluster is very small, but we will hope they can get to the frames of honey I added last week during the thaw, and that they will make it through until warmer weather and the first pollen.

For all you bee and honey lovers out there, I have some final words: Keep planting for the bees (there's a good list on this blog). Don't treat your colonies with ANY chemicals, or even sugar. Allow them to resist the mites by getting stronger naturally. Don't worry if they swarm -- it's probably healthier for them, and they are repopulating the landscape with wild colonies. Don't heat your honey. Advocate for GMO-free seeds. Advocate for no chemicals in any gardening or animal husbandry. Keep working with the bees. May you be blessed with healthy bees, and a little honey on the side.

Thanks for everyone's support these last few years. -- Thrissle

New Year

2010-12-31T12:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from the bees!

Today at Thistle Hill

2010-10-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

From Afar, a Heart in a Tree

2010-10-17T14:29:00.001-07:00

...Still persevering.

2010-10-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

End of the season

2010-10-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

Last week the top bar hive had a lot of unfinished honey in it. The bees were bringing in bright yellow pollen. Don't know where they were getting it -- perhaps from the small white asters, or the purple ones.

Today at Dead Creek Wildfowl Refuge in Addison, Vermont, we saw bumblebees and honeybees foraging on the last of the purple asters. Looking up toward the bright blue sky, we spotted honeybee comb hanging about 25 feet up in a shagbark hickory. About 5 big combs. The poor girls, we don't know what they'll do when rain, frost, and snow come. It seems the days of this small swarm colony are numbered...And yet they valiantly work to bring in the last of the nectar.

A lesson for us humans, to carry on and keep trying to solve the problems... even when it seems a pointless endeavor...Never to give up. This is a practical lesson, but one for our hearts as well.

What's Blooming Now

2010-08-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Boneset and Spotted Joe-Pye Weed are in full bloom. I haven't seen any bees on the Boneset but they are foraging on the Joe-Pye Weed. Burdock is about over. How'd I miss that? Goldenrod is coming on.

Honey Bee on Spotted Joe-Pye Weed

2010-08-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

Todd helps Annemie

2010-08-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Foraging today...

2010-08-01T08:40:00.001-07:00

Bees are enjoying Catnip, Motherwort, and Chicory up here on the hill.

A Pollinators' Favorite

2010-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

There are so many flowers that the honey bees and other pollinators like. One of the favorites is Black Cohosh, a women's herb. It has many names, one of which is Stinking Benjamin because of its aromatic flowers which don't smell very good! But the flowers are beautiful and provide great texture in a bouquet.

In the background you see zinnias, which the hummingbirds have been enjoying at Thistle Hill.

Acknowlegement

2010-07-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to teacher and mentor Todd Hardie of Honey Gardens Apiaries who helped me plunge into the cross comb mess and take honey, and whose advice is right on.

Honey from the top bar hive

2010-07-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

Top Bar Hive Update -- Honey!

2010-07-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

This hive is FULL of bees and comb and they had run out of room. So I took out 4 bars of honey. They had cross-combed anyway and it was a bit of a mess, so it was good to replace the bars with fresh ones and hope they don't cross-comb again.

South of France?

2010-07-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here's the view out back, where there is a field of mustard for the bees.

Is it just hot...

2010-07-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

...Or are they preparing to swarm?

2010-07-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

Wedding Cake

2010-07-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

We now diverge from Bees to bring some news of my daughter's wedding. Cake made by N. Cameron Keane, Aunt of bride and painter. Note the rose on top.

Sumac flow

2010-06-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Staghorn Sumac is in full bloom and if you stop at one and look at the sky just above the top of the shrub you will see the bees buzzing around it. They are alive with bees these days. My theory is that this is the big flow right now, along with the clovers.

Mustard

2010-06-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

The fields are bright yellow with a profusion of mustard flowers. Here a field bee collects nectar and pollen. Notice what a huge glob of pollen she's carrying in her back leg pollen baskets. This pollen will be carried back to the hive to feed the larvae or store for later use.

Blackberry Blossoms

2010-05-28T07:47:00.001-07:00

This bee is collecting nectar and pollen from the blackberry (rubus alligheniensis) flowers. Note the grey pollen in her baskets.

Beehive in a sea of blackberry blossoms

2010-05-27T08:46:00.001-07:00

Small Swarm in Birch Tree

2010-05-27T08:43:00.001-07:00

These might have come from the top bar hive.

Top Bar Hive preparing to swarm?

2010-05-27T08:39:00.001-07:00

Top Bar Hive Residents Get New Home

2010-05-13T17:53:00.001-07:00

Many people helped and gave support to this project. Here's the new longer top bar hive. The bees made their transition easily and peacefully.

A few days ago

2010-05-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

Willow and dandelion have been blooming. Ground ivy has begun too.

Bob's Bees

2010-05-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

I traded this beehive, and another, to Bob in exchange for a top bar hive. Here's what they were doing a few days ago...Bob picked them up tonight and we wish for them much nectar and pollen in their new home.

Snow

2010-04-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

It's snowing here, has been all day. We pray the brood won't get chilled as temperatures have dropped into the 30's.

Willows are blooming

2010-04-23T14:47:00.001-07:00

Lots of bees coming in bearing huge balls of pollen.

What's blooming in southern California

2010-04-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

I just spent 12 days in the desert just north of Palm Springs. The lemon trees were blossoming and producing fruit at the same time. Every day, I visited the bees there. We made scrumptious lemon bars and lemonade from the fruit.

Spring Pollen

2010-04-01T19:12:00.001-07:00

Today was quite a day in the bee yard. The bees were absolutely loaded with huge amounts of pollen in their baskets.

Bees cleaning off a sister who fell in the honey

2010-04-01T19:07:00.001-07:00

...And how about the pollen that forager has brought in!

Pale Yellow Pollen

2010-03-18T06:47:00.001-07:00

The bees are bringing in pale yellow pollen. If anyone has observed them and can tell with certainty what they are foraging on, please write in.

There was also fresh nectar in the hives that I opened up yesterday.

There is a concern with this warm weather that the bees will expand their brood nest, then cold weather can still hit us hard in the next 6 weeks, which could endanger brood....

Pollen!

2010-03-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

I opened the top bar hive this afternoon to put some honey in for the bees....Some of them are bringing in brownish gray pollen! Pussy willow? Wow, it's early!

The bees are flying today

2010-02-22T12:43:00.001-08:00

Thistle Hill's top bar hive at 1:45 p.m. today. The ladies in all 6 hives are flying! We are grateful they've made it so far.

It's warm today...

2009-12-03T12:00:00.003-08:00

Almost 60 degrees F and the bees are flying and bringing in pollen. Aren't they amazing.

Fall is coming

2009-08-21T09:44:00.003-07:00

You know what? I've already seen a few purple asters. The season is waning.

Boneset

2009-08-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Observed bees on boneset yesterday. I wonder what particular nourishment they get from these not-very-abundant native wild medicinal plants. Something important, I'm sure.

Black Gold

2009-08-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

Results of good pollination: Wild blackberries. Every day right now I am bringing home baskets of these.

Invasive Plants

2009-08-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Button Bay State Park I took this picture of Purple loosestrife and goldenrod. There was a lot of purple loosestrife there -- apparently the state has allowed it to stay there?

Purple loosestrife, along with Japanese Knotweed, is an invasive plant in Vermont and it is illegal to move, sell, or distribute both of these plants. Note: Goldenrod (solidago spp.) is NOT invasive, but a native plant.

From the Vermont Agency of Agriculture:

Japanese knotweed spreads quickly to form dense thickets that exclude native vegetation and greatly alter natural ecosystems. It poses a significant threat to riparian areas, where it can survive severe floods and is able to rapidly colonize scoured shores and islands. Once established, populations are extremely persistent.

Purple loosestrife
has the ability to completely dominate a wetland setting, forming a vast, monotypic stand. These stands prevent the establishment of native wetland plants. It also can have an effect on native wildlife that may not be able to use the plants as effectively for food or cover. By forming these dense stands, Lythrum salicaria can clog waterways causing problems for both commercial and recreational uses of these areas.
However, both of these plants provide a good source of nectar for honey bees at this time of year. So, if you do see some, at least you can think about how it's helping the bees.

But again: it is illegal in Vermont to move, sell, or distribute these plants. And with good reason.

The good news is, goldenrod blooms at this time of year as well, and it is a native species. And goldenrod should be able to provide enough fall forage for bees -- IF we allow it to grow and don't mow it all down.

More about goldenrod later.

Goldenrod

2009-08-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

The goldenrod is really coming on. Have you checked your beehives lately? The yeasty smell of goldenrod honey is wafting over the bee yard.

Swarm on August 16

2009-08-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well, today my top bar hive swarmed! I am not at all surprised. I always knew that box was too small (19 bars) considering the kind of energy and strength this colony had.... If I were a better beekeeper I would have been inspecting and could have split them 2 weeks ago.... NOW, will the swarm make it through?

I gave the swarm to another beekeeper who wanted to try a top bar hive. If it were me, I might try putting them in a Langstroth with already built comb, because I doubt they can make enough comb and honey to get through the Vermont winter, now...

But she says she has lots and lots of extra honey and will feed them. She is going to put them in a tbh -- and they are used to a tbh so will probably like a tbh more.

I could have split them on August 1, but...inexperienced beekeeper.

Now, I think I am supposed to leave the original hive alone for 2 weeks? Since they must be making a Queen.

Entrance Activity

2009-08-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

Bees at the top bar hive entrances

On the Wings of Angels

2009-08-12T10:45:00.001-07:00

Honeybees don't visit Bee Balm?

2009-08-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

Robbing Honey

2009-08-12T10:40:00.001-07:00

I put some old honey out for the bees to take... Here are 2 fighting over it. Or are they?

Sow Thistle

2009-07-29T13:36:00.001-07:00

The bees have been visiting these roadside flowers for several weeks.

Jewelweed

2009-07-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen bees on Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) for 3 years. However, 2 days ago, they were visiting the flowers. Here you can see the bee going deep into the flower for nectar.

First Burdock Flowers

2009-07-29T13:10:00.001-07:00

The first flowers came out on July 27, and the bees immediately began to gather pollen from them.

Echinops

2009-07-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

The bees really love this plant! These flower balls are about 2" in diameter. I have seen up to 5 bees on one flower head.

Anise Hyssop

2009-07-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

This is such a favorite of honey bees. It has a wonderful strong licorice smell. It's a member of the mint family and you can make tea out of the fresh or dried leaves. It's a North American native, too.

Moving On...

2009-07-27T14:25:00.001-07:00

It's not too often that we can watch a bee on a leaf.

Small flowers

2009-07-22T07:02:00.000-07:00

One of the interesting things about honeybees is that they often visit very small, even insignificant flowers. Take catnip. It's a common wild herb, and it can be invasive in gardens. The flowers are tiny and not particularly noticeable. But it's a favorite of bees.

This goes for a lot of other flowers, such as lemon balm (melissa), sweet marjoram, and anise hyssop.

Take a magnifying glass out in your garden and look at some of these flowers...they're amazing.

White clover

2009-07-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Speaking with a very experienced beekeeper today, I learned that there is still time for the sun to come out and the bees to make a good crop of honey from white clover.

Blooming this week

2009-07-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

White clover
Mustard
Milkweed
Birdsfoot trefoil
White sweet clover
Yellow sweet clover
Anise hyssop
Echinacea (July 12)
Catnip
Catmint
Black cohosh
Thyme
Bee balm
Brown-eyed Susans

This Week: Milkweed...

2009-07-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

Pollination

2009-07-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

...And this is what you get when pollination has been complete.

Blooming at Thistle Hill this week

2009-07-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

Mustard
Sumac
Anise Hyssop is just coming out
Catmint
Borage has started!
White sweet clover
White clover
Milkweed
Buttercups
Brown-eyed Susans

Sumac

2009-07-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

The bees are all over the staghorn sumac as its flowers near their end.

Milkweed

2009-07-01T18:57:00.001-07:00

Honeybees love milkweed. I got this shot this afternoon on a walk at Thistle Hill.

White Clover is Blooming

2009-06-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

June 22-28, 2009 - National Pollinator Week

2009-06-24T13:31:00.001-07:00

Do something for pollinators this week!

In New York City, they had a Beekeepers' Ball to raise awareness and kick off a push-back at local laws prohibiting beekeeping in New York. (Many large cities permit beekeeping.)

We're already starting to plan our own Vermont Beekeepers' Ball!

Top Bar Hive Report

2009-06-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

Opened up the new, small top bar hive in which I hived a sizeable swarm last Wednesday, 6 days ago. They've started making their beautiful new white comb. Photos soon. This tbh is a little small. I'm not sure what I'll do when they outgrow it.

White Clover

2009-06-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

The white clover season is going strong. We're out here in western NY state for a few days, south of Rochester. Interesting to see what is blooming here. They have a lot of yellow sweet clover, a good bee plant. I'm seeing lots of bees on white clover. The sumac is about out. I have this theory that that's the next big honey plant in the Champlain Valley. Can't wait to get home Friday and see if the bees are on it.

Yet another swarm!

2009-06-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I discovered another swarm on the fence here near the bee yard. I successfully hived it in the new top bar hive that Bob built for me and delivered 2 days ago! Take a look.

Thistle Hill Swarm Catching #3

Swarm at Thistle Hill

2009-06-13T06:29:00.001-07:00

Swarm at Thistle Hill

One way to help the bees

2009-06-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

What can I as a member of the public do to help honey bees?

The best action you can take to benefit honey bees is to not use pesticides indiscriminately, especially not to use pesticides at mid-day when honey bees are most likely to be out foraging for nectar.

In addition, you can plant and encourage the planting of good nectar sources such as red clover, foxglove, bee balm, and joe-pye weed. For more information, see www.nappc.org.]
The above is quoted from the United States Agricultural Research Service at http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572

Great Pollinator gardening site

2009-06-12T08:42:00.001-07:00

Gardening for Wildlife - Animals - Bees and Other Pollinators | Wild About Gardening

Shared via AddThis

Swarm News

2009-06-12T03:01:00.000-07:00

Last night about 5:45 I was sitting at the dining table with friends when I noticed that a branch on the birch tree didn't look quite right. Sure enough, there was a good-sized bee swarm on a branch about 12 feet above the ground. Doesn't sound very high but it was.

If you click the picture below you will connect with a slide show of the swarm collecting.

But...

2009-06-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

Isn't this just too cute?

Feasting on black raspberries (thimbleberries)

2009-06-04T10:18:00.001-07:00

Chives are a favorite...

2009-06-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Blackberries are out...

2009-06-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

What's blooming this week

2009-06-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

Blackberries
Black raspberries
Buttercups
Mustard
Dandelions (a few still left)

Blackberry Buds

2009-06-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

Have you ever smelled blackberry blossoms just before they open? They give off the most wonderful spicy, dusky aroma that is really quite alluring. Try it. The blossoms are opening in many areas and you can still experience this.

Dandelions are over

2009-06-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

Below we see a bee on one of the last dandelion flowers.

Bee Guardian Program

2009-05-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

I just read about this very interesting program, and am going to look into bringing this to Vermont.

Apple blossoms are out

2009-05-14T11:07:00.001-07:00

....Along with pears and dandelions!

Willow Bloom

2009-05-08T18:40:00.001-07:00

The willows are blooming and the bees are bringing in lots of pollen.

I've been fortunate: all 4 of my hives survived the winter. They're working hard. I've been doing some spring management today and will do more tomorrow.

The bees are working the ground ivy in my yard. Pear trees are in bloom and across town we looked up into the sweet white blossoms and watched the honeybees and bumblebees feasting.

The spearmint, anise hyssop, sweet marjoram, and melissa are all up and growing by leaps and bounds. Dwarf catmint is about to flower.

Red Maple

2009-04-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

The red maples are looking really beautiful right now.

Pollen!

2009-04-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

The bees have been bringing in pale yellow pollen. The pussy willows are in bloom here in central Vermont. The willows and red maples are about to pop.

We are thankful that the bees have made it through another northern winter.

February Thaw

2009-02-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

When it's 40 degrees on a February Day
The honeybees come out to play.

January in the Bee Yard

2009-01-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve -- Bees singing?

2008-12-24T11:01:00.001-08:00

There are some interesting bits of folklore and traditional activity regarding the bees at Christmas. In old days, beekeepers in Austria sprinkled their hives with holy water and smoked them with incense. In Moravia it was believed that the bees would have a lot of honey and would not swarm if moved on Christmas Eve.

From British folklore:

In many parts of England and Scotland the bees are said to emit a buzzing sound exactly at midnight on Christmas Eve. (Source: The Sacred Bee: In Ancient Times and Folklore, by Hilda M. Ransome. Dover Publications, Inc., 2004.)

In France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany, as well as parts of England and Scotland, it was believed that bees actually sang Christmas hymns in their hives on Christmas Eve.

As for the solstice, soon after this shortest day of the year, the queen bee will begin to lay more eggs.

The Fruits of Their Labors

2008-11-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

The bees worked hard to pollinate these sunflowers (see August 28's Summer Sun posting). Now the birds are enjoying the seeds that developed due to complete pollination. These bluejays come every morning and evening to fill up.

Leaving some of your garden to flower

2008-11-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

This year, I purposely let some broccoli flower so that I could save some seeds for next year's garden. The bees received the benefit of some late nectar, when the asters were almost gone. On sunny days you could see them foraging on whatever flowers they could find. In the process they pollinated the broccoli so I'll have seeds for next year. Note the pollen basket on this bee's leg.

Asters!

2008-09-19T10:56:00.001-07:00

This worker is coming in for a landing on an aster flower. There are so many different species of aster that it is difficult to identify which one this is. All of them are wonderful food for the bees right now.

The bees are also still visiting sedum, Russian sage, any basil that is flowering, nasturtiums, and others. It's an important time of year to have lots of garden flowers as the availability of wild food dwindles and the bees begin to make ready for winter.

Goldenrod

2008-09-06T05:53:00.000-07:00

Goldenrod is the last major food plant for bees for the season. At Thistle Hill it has now peaked, but there are still many flowers in full bloom. The bees are working hard to make their last big honey crop before winter.

There are 5 species of goldenrod in Vermont. Two of them are on the Vermont endangered species list. Goldenrod provides food not only for honeybees but for many other native pollinators.

For these reasons, think about leaving a strip of unmowed area next to the highway instead of mowing your lawn right out to the road. Think about leaving some wild areas on your lawn or property so the goldenrod can grow. You will have a beautiful golden yellow display every September, if you do so.

Summer Sun

2008-08-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here the bee is pollinating. The pollinated florets are to the outside, not-yet pollinated to the inside.

The glory of late summer

2008-08-28T09:44:00.001-07:00

Here is the view I am fortunate enough to see as I walk out behind Thistle Hill. Goldenrod, Joe-pye Weed, and in the background sumac: All food for honeybees and other pollinators.

From Around the country

2008-08-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some reports from this summer, from people in other areas. It's so great to see people's love of gardening and the bees coming through. Keep writing to
thrissle@gmail.com
with stories of what's blooming and what your bees are foraging on.

From Cathy on Long Island, July 17:

Presently blooming is Russian Sage (I have 3 bushes growing next to each other for more visual impact and it’s covered with bees), Echinacea (purple coneflower), Oriental and Asiatic Lilies, Hydrangea; soon there will be Clethra (Summer Sweet). Lavender has almost finished as has the yellow and pink yarrows; Herbs are Lemon Balm, Thyme and Rosemary and Basil. My tomatoes are starting to fruit and so are the eggplant and peppers. Kirby cucumbers are flowering prolifically and starting to mature (yummy). And there is a second blooming of strawberries! There is a second blooming of Clematis Sweet Autumn on a fence next to my veggie garden. (Delicious fragrance) And the Abelia growing at my front door is also blooming with yet more fragrance. It’s quite a mixture, something is always in bloom at one time or another.

From Duane in Michigan, July 20:

Bee Balm, Yellow & White Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Chicory, Milk Weed. Elder Berry. Crown Vetch, Buckwheat, Butter Beans, Squash & Pickle vines...

From Rebecca in Boothbar Harbor, Maine, July 30:

At the moment I have blooming: phlox, stokesia, ligularia, hosta, astatrantia, chives, sedums, Achillea, Nasturtiums, lychnis coronaria, digitalis, scabiosa, Echinacea , veronica, scabiosa, lady’s mantle, delphinium, and soon anemones. The phlox are the favorites of the bees at the moment, and happily we have seen quite a few bees this year.

Don't Cut Your Burdock Down! (The annual post)

2008-07-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

The burdock is just starting to flower here, and the bees are on it.

In the past I used to make it my goal to cut the burdock plants down before they went to seed, to keep them from spreading. I still cut a few down, but I leave most of them for the bees now. This plant is medicinal and you can also eat the root. Find out more at MedlinePlus.

Bees are Generalists

2008-07-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

I am wondering if there aren't many big farm crops in bloom right now. A week ago, the bees weren't in the yard much, excepting on the Motherwort. This week, they are visiting many different kinds of flowers.

The first borage flower(see photo at right) came out 2 days ago. Today the bees have found them. They are also visiting catnip, Russian sage, catmint, leek flowers, black cohosh, and more.

Leave some leeks for next year

2008-07-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is a leek flower. Last year I left 4 leeks in the garden. It is a biennial and this year they flowered. The flowers are beautiful and the bees are all over them gathering pollen.

Borage has started to bloom in the Thistle Hill gardens. More on that next posting.

What's Blooming Now

2008-07-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a partial list of plants currently flowering at Thistle Hill. I haven't necessarily seen bees on all of them, but they are all nectar and/or pollen plants for either honeybees or bumblebees.

Chicory
White sweet clover
White clover
Russian sage (just beginning to flower)
Motherwort
Mustard
Catnip
Catmint
Black cohosh (bumblebees)
Bee balm (bumblebees)
Red clover (bumblebees)
Brown-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
Kale
Leeks
Milkweed
Lavender
Queen Anne's lace

Please write and tell us what's blossoming at your house right now.
thrissle@gmail.com

Photo : White Sweet Clover

Please Write!

2008-07-09T11:27:00.001-07:00

Please write us and tell what is blooming in your garden and what flowers the honeybees are visiting. You can write a comment, or you can simply send us an email at thrissle@gmail.com

Thank you for helping to make this blog more relevant to all viewers. -- Annie (blogger)

Motherwort

2008-07-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

Leonurus cardiaca is a favorite of honeybees and a good medicinal women's herb.

Sumac

2008-06-22T15:09:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was wondering what the bees were foraging for, since there isn't much in my yard right now. Today I walked out to the hedgerows in between farm fields and found what I was looking for: staghorn sumac. The bees were all over it.

Magical Light

2008-06-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

The bees were enjoying wild geranium on a recent visit to a nearby perennial wholesaler.

Banner Bee Class

2008-06-08T07:48:00.001-07:00

The Vermont Beekeepers Association class yesterday at the Intervale in Burlington was really exciting. We were blessed with seeing a new queen being born, and a swarm of bees which arrived (from elsewhere?) and hung out in a tree near the hives.

The class was about inspecting for disease. Fortunately, there were no diseases found!