Seasonal transitions by our bees It seems every year is different in some way and here in Central Oregon we are running what appears to be a couple weeks behind a typical season. That’s a good thing because it means the nectar flow is still running strong. Soon we will make that transition from summer

Cell size in nature Bees don’t create a cells of a single, pre-determined size as they make their honeycomb. They make them according to their needs. Most beekeepers are aware that drone cells are considerably larger than those cells destined to create a worker bee. And queen cups are a very different size and shape

All beekeepers have a need to deal with pests at some point. Generally, mites come to mind when beekeepers think of pests. But while mites are at the top of the list, there are a host of other pests with which we beekeepers must contend. In general, pests can be defined, simplistically, as “something that

Year two is when a beekeeper gets a taste of real beekeeping. If last year was your first season it’s likely you have yet to experience beekeeping in the spring to the full. More happens in the bee yard in the spring of the year than at any other time.

We are at a time of year when we find colonies that didn’t make it through the winter and we wonder what happened to bring about their demise. Though it is most certainly a sad discovery for the beekeeper, inspecting a so-called deadout can be a very educational process.