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BOMMER'S BEES: Blooms becoming more scarce as summer nears end

BOMMER'S BEES: Blooms becoming more scarce as summer nears end

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

The Carolina Beekeepers Association just concluded its summer meeting in Charleston. We were there from Thursday through Saturday, with speakers and activities from early morning till after supper. A bee yard was set up to take people through various stages of learning. A comprehensive honey…

BOMMER'S BEES: Bees swarm to increase colonies, await spring nectar flow

BOMMER'S BEES: Bees swarm to increase colonies, await spring nectar flow

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

This is the time of the year that bees swarm to increase their colonies. The old queen leaves with approximately half of the colony. They have gorged on honey prior to leaving to help them with their new home. Initially they fly a short distance from the parent hive because the queen has not…

BOMMER'S BEES: Beekeepers should practice safety

BOMMER'S BEES: Beekeepers should practice safety

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

You have checked the maple blooms to see that they are developing, so the next project is to locate an American Holly and look down into its leaves for that small white dot. The small white dot will turn into a small white fragrant flower; however, a sharp decline will turn it black as they …

BOMMER'S BEES: Bees head West for almond polination

BOMMER'S BEES: Bees head West for almond polination

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

One of the biggest events in the bee industry is going to start in California — almond pollination. Remember from earlier writings it took 3,600 semi-trucks to transport the bees for the almond pollination. The bees are wondering why they are doing this.  Over 80 percent of the almonds are …

BOMMER'S BEES: Welcome to the new year

BOMMER'S BEES: Welcome to the new year

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

The Christmas parties are over and new honey dishes were explored and generally good times were had by all. Now starts the pipedreams and how the new year is going to be. Dreams of how the honey flow will be for the new year. In the dream, mites and pests will be eliminated and we will win.

BOMMER'S BEES: Register now for beekeeping classes

BOMMER'S BEES: Register now for beekeeping classes

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

This is the time of the year to register with local beekeeping associations for bee classes. Yes, there is a fee but the funds are all returned with attendance to classes and books. Bees will be available for purchase through the clubs at a much-reduced price rather than going to the supplie…

BOMMER'S BEES: Beekeeping classes should begin soon

BOMMER'S BEES: Beekeeping classes should begin soon

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

The state fair is over, and the honey and hive products have been judged and ribbons awarded. Then untold numbers who visited the observation hive have identified the queen. The bee booth remains to be the most visited booth at the fair by the fair staff and now you will have to wait until n…

BOMMER'S BEES: The goldenrods are blooming

BOMMER'S BEES: The goldenrods are blooming

  • By Wes Bommer Columnist

In last month’s article, we mentioned that goldenrod would soon be blooming. Upon inspection of undisturbed land such as powerlines, you will note that there is a large quantity of short goldenrod flowering. If you take the time to observe the blooms, you will see numbers of native pollinato…

Pet hazards around the house

Pet hazards around the house

  • Metro Creative Connection

Much changes for the better when pets are brought into a household. When a pet joins the family, members now have a companion to enthusiastically greet them when they return home from work or school.