Tag Archives: pollen

April 7: Day in the bees

Posted on April 7, 2022 by Ron Miksha

April 7. Our backyard hives are collecting real pollen! Last week, I showed you some fake pollen coming into the colonies. Nothing beats the real stuff. Although desperate honey bees will carry worthless sawdust as a pollen supplement, nothing inspires … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Ecology, Native Bees, Personal | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Early Pollen?

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Ron Miksha

A couple of days ago, on March 22, we had sunlight and heat. Honey bees were gathering pollen. I don’t remember such a rush of pre-season pollen in this area. It’s a lot earlier than expected. I figured their goodies … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Should you feed pollen supplement?

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Ron Miksha

In mid-March, Stevo Sun, a Calgary resident, sent some gorgeous pictures of honey bees foraging on silver maple. Maple is an ornamental here, at our elevation and latitude. But for less than $250, you can pick up a young tree … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Honey Plants, Native Bees | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

You thought bees were vegetarians?

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Ron Miksha

Well, looks like another sacred truth has been shattered. Bees eat beefy little microbes as part of their regular diet. Never again will I stand in front of a class of new beekeepers and implore them to marvel at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Diseases and Pests, Ecology, Pesticides, Save the Bees, Science | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

A bit of pollen

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Ron Miksha

Today’s high was only 12 ºC (53F), but the bees had discovered pollen. It’s surprising how small the pollen pelts are, and doubly surprising that nearly every bee is carrying some. Both of our backyard colonies are weak, but coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Peak Dandelion

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Ron Miksha

For a lot of temperate-climate beekeepers, dandelions are the peak of the spring season.  Their bloom marks the point where hives are finally getting much stronger, nectar is pouring in, and the dandelions’ massive gifts are giving a fine boost … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Ecology, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

First day with the bees

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Ron Miksha

On Friday evening, just after the sun had set, we installed two packages of bees. Earlier in the day, we arranged six drawn-out deep brood frames (purchased from Scandia Honey, a very reputable bee farm in our area), two new … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Pollen Specks

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Ron Miksha

Yesterday, I saw the first pollen of the year carried by bees in our area.  It’s almost May! Local bees have been without fresh pollen for over six months.  The pollen specks which I saw were pitifully specky. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Ecology, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Black ‘Pollen’ in March

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Ron Miksha

A friend sent this great picture of a honey bee trucking home some very dark pollen today. Since flowers are not yet blooming here in Calgary, I’m pretty sure that the ‘pollen’ is coffee. Bees have been known to gather … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Black Pollen Day

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Some bees eat coffee when they get desperate. I suppose some people do, too. We usually think that bees are always gleefully buzzing flower to flower, happy as ducks in water. But when food is scarce, anything goes. When my … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments