Category Archives: Save the Bees
Bees, Climate Change, Catastrophe
Usually, I’m the person asking the questions. I invite someone onto About Bees, Culture, and Curiosity, turn on the microphone, and start poking around. Sometimes we stay on topic. Sometimes we disappear down a rabbit hole and emerge forty minutes … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Ecology, Native Bees, Podcasts, Pollination, Save the Bees, Science
Tagged About Bees podcast, beekeeping, bees, climate change, insect decline, Native Bees, Ron Miksha
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Too Hot for Bees? Arizona Heat, Drought, and Rescuing Bees
How hot is too hot for a honey bee? That question doesn’t mean much sitting here in Calgary on a mild (20°C) summer day. It becomes important to my niece, keeping bees in southern Arizona where the thermometer was pushing … Continue reading
The 3-in-1 Bee Tree: Linden, Lime, and Basswood
Basswood is nice, if you don’t mind hanging around with a tree accused of murdering millions of bees. Falsely accused. For over a hundred years, people have found dead bumble bees under basswood trees. Starved? Poisoned? Do you remember the … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Books, Comb Honey, Ecology, Honey, Honey Plants, Native Bees, Save the Bees
Tagged basswood tree, bee trees, beekeeping, bumble bees, Comb Honey, honey, honey bees, Honey Plants, lime tree, linden blossom tea, linden tree, pollinators, Tilia
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Bees on the Rocks
Combs clinging to rock ledges and human foragers climbing to harvest part of the sticky sweet honey gathered by wild bees on the edge of the Himalayas conjures up images of a way of life few of us will ever … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Honey, Honey Plants, Native Bees, Save the Bees, Travels
Tagged beekeeping, Himalayas, honey bees, mad honey, Nepal
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Dandelion: The Bee Plant That Doesn’t Need Bees
Some things I didn’t know about dandelions until today: Dandelions don’t need bees. Or any other pollinators – not even wind or gravity to move their pollen. Each dandelion flower is made up of a hundred florets, each an individual … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Honey, Honey Plants, Native Bees, Save the Bees
Tagged beekeeping, dandelions, honey bees
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Who’s afraid of a few bees?
Yesterday’s New York Times had a lengthy first-person account of the disturbing tale of a home invasion. Dozens came in, none left alive. According to the author, Sarah Kliff, “Honey bees invaded my house, and no one would help.” This … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Outreach, Save the Bees, Stings
Tagged bee rescues, honey bees, New York Times, swarming
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The Native and Non-Native Bee Debate
A few days ago, I sat down with the folks at Beekeeping Today Podcast to talk about how our non-native honey bees may affect native bees. Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman were informed, sympathetic interviewers. I had a great time … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Native Bees, Outreach, Personal, Podcasts, Save the Bees
Tagged Calgary, Native Bees, podcast, urban beekeeping
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Support the Students
I don’t usually ask readers to help (even with good causes), but you will feel great about this one. The University of Calgary, where I am looking at the interaction between honey bees and native bees, has a smart group … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Ecology, Native Bees, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged bees, Calgary, University of Calgary
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Riot police battle beekeepers
Some Chilean beekeepers chose the wrong place to set 60 colonies of bees. Or maybe the right place, as their plight drew national attention. Four beekeepers were arrested, seven riot police were hospitalized due to bee stings, and at least … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Culture, or lack thereof, Save the Bees, Stings, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged Chile, climate change, drought, Protests
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Look at me! I’m green!
A Calgary oil company’s office tower has a bee just around the corner. This beautiful wall-poster points the way to the bee. Yes, ‘the bee’ according to the sign. I would be quite embarrassed if I had allowed such a … Continue reading
