When it comes to beekeeping, two is better than one. Or is it? Does it ever make sense to have only one colony? Attend any bee club meeting or read any honey bee books, and you'll come across the recommendation to start with at least 2 hives. There are solid reasons for this advice! Two … Continue reading Does it Make Sense to Start with Only ONE Honey Bee Colony?
This article is part of our "trees for bees" series where we feature trees/shrubs that are excellent pollinator forage We raise honey bees in the sand prairie of Minnesota. It's a harsh landscape and many of the traditional "bee plants" struggle, so we look to native trees and shrubs to provide a lot of our … Continue reading Gray Dogwood – A Native Shrub For Pollinators and Birds
This article is part of our "trees for bees" series where we feature trees/shrubs that are excellent pollinator forage Smooth Sumac and Staghorn Sumac are common "roadside" plants in North America. They are pioneer plants and quickly spread by rhizomes to colonize erosion prone areas. They are unique looking shrubs, grow without maintenance, tolerate drought … Continue reading Staghorn Sumac – A blessing to bees and humans
This article is part of our "trees for bees" series where we feature trees/shrubs that are excellent pollinator forage American Linden (also known as Basswood) is a gorgeous tree. It grows in a pyramidal shape (rare for a deciduous tree) and has interesting off-center, heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are edible when young and the blossoms … Continue reading American Linden – A Honey Bee Favorite
This article is part of our "trees for bees" series where we feature trees/shrubs that are excellent pollinator forage One of my favorite "wild" foods to forage is the Wild American Plum. It comes in a variety of colors and flavors. They range from yellow, to yellowish-red, to light purple-red, to deep purple. I find … Continue reading Wild American Plums
