Honeybees Gathering Orange Blossom Honey
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April Bees Are Busy!
It’s Time for the Honeybee to Show Her Muscles
This is an almond orchard in mid-bloom. And yes, this honeybee needs her time on camera, too.
I know it’s been some time since our last post; almond pollination always consumes most of our days—AND NIGHTS!—but as usual, everything went well, and the bees came through fine. I can’t speak for us, however. But we’re alive.
On another stimulating note: This is an extremely uplifting time of year: The bees are gearing up for the most encouraging of circumstances: the oranges groves where the citrus owns the air, the Coastal sage where the vista are a gamblers chair, and the blackberries where the ocean is hidden by the rolling hills.
This is Mother Nature’s way of saying—“Enjoy yourselves, this one is on me.”
Almond Pollination Pictures
The sunshine had these bees working at 8:40 AM…
Backyard Beekeeping in California is Looking Good
The backyard beekeeper, in California, is having a great start: look at those bees go! You backyard beekeepers better make plans; the bees look like they’re making plans of their own.
And remember to–HAVE FUN!–and share some honey!
Almond Pollination 2012: Renting Bees
This is an interesting year—as far as the 2012 Almond Pollination goes.
As you know, we’re beekeepers. We’re also bee brokers. That means, we help other beekeepers and almond growers find each other; this helps our local commerce, and since beekeepers from all over America use our service to find almond growers in Central California, this also helps stimulate the National economy. A service we’re thankful to be a part of.
Normally, almond growers call about November 20th asking if we’ll have bees for their almond orchards again; and beekeepers usually call November 1st asking if we’ll have almond orchards for their bees again.
This year went a little bit differently: November 1st came, and our phones rang as they usually do, but—November 2nd through January was much more different this year: the calls kept coming! Today is January 23rd and I had to turn away over 2000 beehives by 10:30 this morning.
The Almond Pollination 2012 is a strange one. I think America needs more almond growers, again.
2012 Almond Pollination
2012 Almond Pollination
Every year, I’m amazed at how quickly more than a million beehives make their way into California for almond pollination.
For those of you lucky enough to have beehives on your property all year, you’ll hardly notice, but those of you who never see beehives, for the next 40 days—positioned next to every freeway, old highway, and country road, you’ll see beehives in long lines, multiple rows, huge squares, and oddly shaped circles.
All for the 2012 almond pollination.
Oregon Winter Bees 2011
Oregon Winter Bees 2011
We brought these bees home from Oregon a few days ago. We are happy to report: they are doing very well. They gathered gobs of honey, and stored it for the winter.
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Winter Bees 2011
Winter Bees 2011
This winter has been nothing but forgiving to the honeybee. The bees are out and doing very well.
There have been stories of the varroa mite this winter. I’m sure in spring, the news will come out; who made it, and who didn’t.
The picture above is a hive today. Could we ask for anymore this close to Christmas? Go Bees!
Honey Badger Randall
Honey Badger Randall...is a nickname.
The fearless Honey Badger Randall is getting a lot of attention. I think if you place the word Honey in front of, near, around—on the same page as—other words, it increases the saleability; even crazy honey badgers are cute now.
I’m glad everyone uses the word Honey to sell things: it's a complement to honeybees. Great PR.
These little creatures are named Honey Badgers because they enjoy eating honeybee brood. Them and ultra-runners.
...don't pet a honey badger.
Photo Source: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0409/feature6/index.html
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