A New Beekeeper’s Journal
What is it about beekeeping that draws us in? Why do so many of us wonder from afar for years, but eventually find ourselves installing our first hive? And what holds us back?
What challenges face us as we install our first bees…and beyond?
This column is the story of one man – Keith Stiles – as he first considers beekeeping and eventually makes the decision to jump into this wonderful hobby.
A Fall Checklist for Beekeepers – Winter is Coming!
To all my fellow Game of Thrones fans, my title, a definite double entendre, references a key phrase in George R. R. Martin's works as we...
Mite Treatments and Winter Hive Activity
Winter Updates from the HiveWhat a year it has been in Beorn's Apiary! 2018 went out with relatively warm weather. In December, we had a...
Spring Approaches and An Apiary Springs Into Life
Many things have happened since my last posts. You are due lots of updates about what's happened over the winter months in Beorn's Apiary. Winter...
Approaching Fall and Changes in the Apiary
Last week, we talked about the preparations we should be taking as we move towards winter. As fall approaches, we start to see changes in...
Monitoring Varroa Mite Levels
The views, opinions and recommendations expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of PerfectBee.Happenings in the Bee...
Hive Inspections and Recordkeeping
Last week, we resolved a number of mysteries that had developed in my bee yard. It is hard to believe that I have been beekeeping...
Installing a New Hive In Fall
I trust everyone is well into their winter preparations as we are now moving into September. Before we know it, frosts will arrive and the...
Honey in the Hive and a Rainy Summer
Faithful readers, you have my sincerest apology for the long hiatus from posting. I had some new job duties associated with our corporation's annual User...
A Buckfast Experiment Goes Bust – Aggressive Bees and Honey Supers
Bee season is in full swing in western North Carolina with all the interesting developments that brings. Local beekeepers have reported swarms, including one my...
Buckfast bees, more splits and the wonder of VSH bees
As spring settles in here in western North Carolina, there are clear signs of rapid growth in my apiary. In my last blog post, I...
Interesting Developments with Queens and Swarms
Spring weather in western North Carolina can be an ever variable and tricky creature. Such has been the case with the first couple of weeks...
Cooler Weather And The Beekeeper
After weeks of abnormally warm weather, the first signs of cooler weather made their appearance in western North Carolina. Two mornings provided temperatures in the...
The Beekeeping Season Lengthens
By this time of year in western North Carolina, we have had at least one if not more frosts. But this October has brought unseasonably...
Resource Hives, Queen Castles and Nucs
Another week has passed and we edge ever closer to the silence of winter in the bee yard. To say that I'm not looking forward...
Gardening for Beekeepers: Flowers that Honeybees Love
Last week, we discussed various educational resources available to new beekeepers. Hopefully, those resources will be as useful to you as they have been to...
Educational Resources for New Beekeepers
Last week, we rounded out our discussion about preparations for fall and winter. We also discussed what robbing behavior is and how a beekeeper might...
Bee Colony Growth Spurt
Last week, we completed our discussion of Varroa Mite treatment options and I shared my choices for treatment. This week I will be dealing...
Choosing a Treatment For Varroa Mites
Last week's blog post centered around providing information about the various options for treating Varroa Mites. This week I had the opportunity to attend our...
Treatments for Varroa Mites
August is a good time to be considering what treatment regimen you will use to battle Varroa Mites. So this week, I completed a survey...
Surprises in the Bee Yard: Two Weeks Is an Age in Beekeeping
With my two weeks at the corporate headquarters behind me, I was looking forward to seeing what had happened in my apiary. As I mentioned...
Considering the Joys of Beekeeping
Last week, we talked about hive inspections and recordkeeping. I detailed what I look for during an inspection and how I maintain my records. This...
Aggressive Colonies and Missing Queens
I have always loved a great mystery. But, I don't especially like that in my bee yard! Last week, I had a colony of angry...
When Beekeeping Goes Wrong
Sometimes it isn't smooth sailing in the bee yard. There will be times when things go wrong. The key is not to panic and make...
The Joy of Installing Nucs
Happenings in the Bee YardBefore we talk about installing nucleus hives, you need updates about what happened in the bee yard this week.With three queenright...
The First Few Weeks of a Beehive
Happenings in the Bee YardThis week I had planned to talk about installing a nuc. But, I didn't get pictures when I installed my nucs....
Setting Up a Langstroth Hive
Happenings in the Bee YardBefore we start talking about my Langstroth hive setup I wanted to update you about some happenings in the bee yard. This week...
Critical Decisions for Bee Yard Setup
Happenings in the Bee YardBefore we start talking about setting up a bee yard and the hives that will house your colonies, I have news...
Key Startup Decisions For the Beekeeper
Happenings in the Bee YardBefore I launch into this week's topic about making choices, I want to share some surprises that happened in my bee...
Planning For Two Hives
One Hive, Two Hives . . .When I decided that I definitely wanted to become a beekeeper, I instantly started considering whether or not I...