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New Bees are Buzzing
With the arrival of four new hives, there is plenty buzzing in the bee yard. We received around 20,000 new bees from a local beekeeper, who has been beekeeping for over 50 years. Our hives are made up of Italian bees, which are the most commonly distributed bee in the U.S. and are the more docile variety. When these new hives come to maturity, they will have anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 new bees, but it will take a full season to see that kind of growth. Each hive has its own personality, and we are excited to watch the new additions develop their own unique characteristics.
Right now we are in the honey flow season, which will last till the middle of May. Flowers are blooming, pollen is of abundance and the honeybees are working vigorously. Most of our honeybees are gravitating to the red clover down by the Garden Shed and to the fresh herbs and flowers in the Farmhouse Spa garden. We are really looking forward to seeing tulip poplar blossom, where the honeybees will gather most of their nectar used for honey. The average beehive will produce around 60 pounds of honey each year.
– Jeff Robinowitz, Bee Keeper