Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale, Arizona has more than just butterflies. In fact, I like to call it Honeybee Wonderland because I get to take care of the two honeybee hives there and it’s super fun. Last year I got to help the former entomologist, Dayna Cooper, do a trapout of…
Posts by cricket
Realistic Beehive Craft
I love honeybee crafts of all kinds, but typically beehive crafts look more like Winnie The Pooh beehives hanging from trees. These really look more like paper wasp nests if you think about it, and nobody is getting honey out of one of those, I assure you. What is needed…
Beekeeping Planner
A beekeeping planner? Heck ya!! I LOVE planners. I LOVE planning my day and my life. So what is more appropriate than creating a planner that combines life goals with hive goals? For some of us they may be the same thing. How many times do you ask yourself when…
How many bees are in a hive?
Nearly every time I do a bee relocation the homeowner asks me how many bees are in the hive I removed. I’ve never felt completely comfortable in my estimates so I decided to do a little tangible research of my own. I remembered one of the activities I created for the…
Feeding Bees, Should You or Shouldn’t You?
There are reasons and seasons for feeding bees here in Arizona. Our goal as beekeepers is to keep strong healthy colonies that can thrive in every season. A big part of our role in that is to make sure that the bees have adequate food supplies and adequate numbers. If…
How to Make Pollen Patties
It’s late summer in Phoenix and my bees are hungry. Why pollen patties? Well, I’ve set out pollen substitute and they are rolling around in it like pigs in mud. It’s quite endearing really. I’ve also been feeding them sugar syrup off and on and I’ve noticed that some of…
Real Flow Hive Pros and Cons
Flow Hive pros and cons is something I’ve wanted to write about for some time. “What do you think about the Flow Hive?” is the main question I get whenever I’m talking to would-be beekeepers or when I’m out in the public sharing about bees and beekeeping. The other question…
Why Relocate Bees Instead of Letting them Stay
Everyone knows that honeybee populations around the world are in trouble, and therefore many of you are willing to do anything it takes to help them out. I know it seems like a noble thing to share your home or property with the lucky honeybees who found you, since most…
Gifts for Beekeepers
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up soon and it’s always so hard to find gifts for people who don’t seem to ever want anything. Well, I started to make a list of things that I am always in need of because I either run out them or they…
All Natural Honey and Peanut Butter Chocolates
So here’s the story, because all good things have stories… I have a friend who made me some nuc boxes and wouldn’t accept any money from me. I wanted to do something nice for him and I know that he is diabetic and loves sugar free treats. I went a-googling…