JC's Bee Blog

Do you keep honeybees? If so you may have notice this stripe on your returning foraging bees. This is from the Jewel weed plant. The part of the plant that produces pollen is called the Anther. When the bee enters Jewel weed to collect nectar the Anther rubs the top of the bee. Leaving this white stripe. As the bee goes from flower to flower the pollen from one plant is mixed with the next which pollinates the plants. As a beekeeper I have learned to watch the entrance of the hives for clues to what the bees are working at that time. This is usually judged by watching for pollen on the bees legs. The color of the pollen can indicate what species of plant. There are some plants that just seem not to produce pollen but the bees still get nectar. One thing is for sure I can always tell when the girls (bees) are working the Jewel weed when they come back with a stripe. The Jewel weed is a very important plant. It has several uses. All of the uses are from the juice that is within the stem ...

Are you ready to graft? Or maybe you already grafted and was wondering when each step took place with the cells. Check out my new  Queen Rearing Calendar Generator . This is a excellent tool for all beekeeper who raise queen cells. Check it out and share it with fellow beekeepers. Do you know how to graft queens? Want to learn? Follow my step by step video. If you already seen the grafting video. What are your thoughts? Do you use a different method to raise queen cells? Will you try this method? Comment below....

The last few days I have spent some time in my wood shop. I needed a tool box to carry my beekeeping tools. It seems when I need a certain tool it is no longer around . But when it's not needed there it is. Funny how it works. Ohio has been right in a line of storms coming from the south reaching the gulf. It's been rain everyday for the last 2 weeks. So I figured this was the time to build my tools box. I wanted something that would hold everything I needed when working the bees. From time to time I do removals ( cutouts ) and then I also graft my own queens. I need something that would accommodate all these needs. I started by getting a few measurements off the bigger pieces that might go in the box. I wanted to make sure I allowed room. The biggest thing I had to carry besides the smoker was a grafting frame. Though I don't use the frame every time I go out, it would be nice to have it when needed. So after some more thought and a few sketches. I came up with my design....