Author: rockwoodbeekeepers

Hello beekeepers and honey bee enthusiasts!

June is going to be very busy for us. Our apiaries are keeping us busy AND it’s crunch time for the Honey Bee Festival and other bee-related events.

Honey Bee Festival – Saturday, June 24th from 10am-2pm at Rockwood Park

and Nature Center Add to Google Calendar

Here are a few things you can do to get involved:

1. Sign up to volunteer and receive a free shirt rockwoodbeekeepers.com/volunteer-sign-up

2. Choose something to bake for the Bake Sale

3. Loan the club canopy or table

4. Sign up to have some of your honey supers extracted extract your honey supers

5. Supply drones for the Drone Petting Zoo.Sign up here Drone Petting Zoo

6. Invite friends on social media

Calendar of Events

Bumblebee Jamboree

Bumblebee Jamboree will kick off National Pollinator Week on June 17th at Maymont Children’s Farm from 10:30am – 2:30pm. This is a free event hosted by Chesterfield County Master Gardeners of the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Follow the Pollinator Path at Maymont by taking a self-guided stroll through the Children’s Farm. Mark your calendar now and bring the kids out! Click here for more information.

The Virginia State Beekeepers Association Spring Meeting will be held on June 10th & 11th @ Sweet Briar College. Speakers include Brooke Savage, Dr. James Wilson, Bob Wellemyer and more. VSBA will have lots of workshops including a Greenhouse tour, honey show preparation, pollinators tour & discussion, Honey Bee Microscopy, updates from our State Apiarist, testing of the Va State Master Beekeeper Program and much more.

More information about the VSBA programs can be found on their website: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Beekeeper:

Michelle Clark

Q: How long have you been a beekeeper and how many hives do you manage?

I started with 2 hives in 2020 and I do my best to keep it at that number. Each year I set out a swarm trap in hopes of catching my own bees should they swarm. I catch one from time to time. I usually give them away. Two hives is perfect for me.

Q: What inspired you to become a beekeeper?

I strive to live more naturally. If I can grow or make something on my own, I will. My interest in beekeeping started as an interest in honey somewhere in the 2015/2016 timeframe. At the time though I lived in a strict HOA, had a 1yr old, and another on the way. It was a few years before we moved, my kids were a little bit older, and I had the time. In January of 2020 I attended a workshop Honey & the Hive hosted at Southern States. During those few hours of learning, I decided beekeeping seemed doable. Soon after that, I signed up for the RPBBA beginner beekeeping class.

Q: What is the best thing about beekeeping for you?

I enjoy watching my hives. I keep them in our backyard close to the house. I watch them from the window above my kitchen sink. Sometimes I’m brave enough to get an up close look without my veil. Is the entrance crowded? Are they bringing home a lot of pollen? What color is the pollen?

Q: What’s challenging about beekeeping for you?

Mistakes are made. It’s a learning curve. When I started, for a while I didn’t realize I needed to push the frames together. That made for a mess. Another time I got bees inside my vail and ended up with 2 stingers hiding among my hair. Last Fall I put 3x the recommended amount of Apiguard in my hives because I thought I remembered the instructions from using it previously. My mind mixed up Apiguard with Apivar. Whoops. My bees hit the trees, quick.

Q: What fun, surprising story would you like to share?

I’m feeling pretty proud of myself. I’ll share two stories.

(1) As some of you already know, and probably many do not, the military brought our family to El Paso over winter. [Yes, I’ll be back for the HBF]. I successfully moved both my hives cross country with tips from John Davis. Thanks John; you’re the best!

(2) I have heard several RPBBA presentations on how to split your hives. This year, I finally did it! For fear of my hives swarming, raising then open mating new queens, and ending up with mixed “Africanized” genetics, I gave splits a go. I made two 5-frame nucs. I sold one; the other I still have. It did so well, so quickly, they swarmed before I realized they’d successfully mated a new queen. I’ve been giving them eggs & larva from my original hive to give them another go at raising a new queen.

Q: In what ways do you feel like you are making an impact on the environment and/or the community?

There’s no denying the reward of pollination our honey bees provide. In our communities though, beekeeping isn’t a common hobby. In El Paso, bees are seen as more of a pest than community helpers. I’m always willing to share the knowledge I have, and a little bit of honey.

Beekeepers Out and About & in the News

There is one more pollinator garden in Richmond thanks to Rick McCormick and RPBBA. Rick designed and installed the garden at the Anna Julia Cooper school in Churchill. RPBBA provided the funds necessary for this task.

The pollinator garden has marigolds and cherry tomato starts, as well as other flowers. The kindergarteners, along with some helpers from 2nd and 3rd grades, did a lot of the planting along with Master Gardeners, Dennis and Mary Lloyd. The installation took over 3 hours and it’s DONE. Great job Rick.

Bee Vocabulary – “Bee Space”

Ever wonder why beekeepers push their frames tightly together in their hives? Our old friend, Lorenzo Langstroth, discovered that bees will build excess comb in any space larger than ⅜ inch. Any space less than ⅜ inch, bees will fill with propolis and/or wax. Proper bee space allows bees to move around in the colony (back to back) and allows you, as the beekeeper, to inspect the hive without destroying carefully built comb.

This Month in the Hive (June)

Hives that haven’t swarmed will be running over with bees and the brood nest may very well extend across two supers. The population of youE strongest hives may exceed 50,000 workers. The queen’s rate of egg laying may drop a little this month. However, she should be moving around the brood nest, laying eggs in cells that have been cleaned from prior use.

Sumac, clovers, strawberries, wild blackberries, speedwell, linden trees, chestnut, chokeberry, huckleberry, grape, holly, blackhaw, honeysuckle,and many ornamentals will provide nectar flows. June is generally a good month for honey production in Northern Virginia, but most of the nectar flows are over by the end of the month. A strong hive may cap as much as 30-40 pounds of honey in June, if good nectar flows are nearby and moisture is sustained in the soil. If soil moisture persists into July, you may want to plan on a small second harvest later in the summer.

Heat can be a serious challenge for the hive at this time. Look for bees bringing in water and placing it around the hive to evaporate for the cooling effect. Watch for swarm cells, wax moths, ants, mice and small hive beetles attacking the combs. If a hive is so weak in June that it can not defend itself against beetles, ants or moths, then you should consider combining it with a much stronger hive.

Watch for supers above the queen excluder where all the center frames in the super are full of capped honey. Move the full center frames to the outside edges of the super, and move less full frames to the center. This will assist the bees to fill and cap all the frames completely.

Inspect the hives weekly to make certain your hives are healthy and the queen is doing her job. You do not need to see a queen if you see a good pattern of eggs, wet larvae (or “worms”) and capped brood. Supers full of honey may be removed at any time you are prepared to begin extraction or keep them in the freezer. (You do not want to store supers of honey for more than a day or two at room temperature, due to ants, spiders, wax moths, and dust.)

Make sure your bees have a source of water within 200 feet of the hive. You may increase your hives by splitting strong colonies after the harvest. There is a slight chance of a need to add more honey supers this month. Keep watching for swarming which may still occur.

Decide if your hives are going to have an upper entrance. If so, you may want to drill a 1 inch circular hole in a super (not close to a handle), which hole can be guarded by the bees in summer and plugged with a cork during the winter. Some beekeepers screen over the hand hole in the inner cover, and then prop up the hive cover slightly to provide ventilation, but not enough to permit access to rodents and large insects.

Confirm queen orders for July hive splits.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

1st Week: Magnolia, Tree Lilac, Rhododendron, Azalea, Nandina, Smoke Tree, Rose, Waterlily, Daylily, Yucca, Annuals, Perennials, European Linden, Mock Orange, Weigelia, Laburnum, Calycanthus, Abelia

2nd Week: Magnolia, Golden Raintree, Mimose, Rose, Azalea, Nandina, Hydrangea, Sourwood, Waerlily, Daylily, Annuals, Perennials, Catalpa, Tree Lilac, Abelia, Calycanthus

3rd Week: Magnolia, Golden Raintree, Mimosa, Sourwood, Rose, Azalea, Daylily, Annuals, Perennials, Catalpa

4th Week: Magnolia, Golden Raintree, Mimosa, Sourwood, Rose, Azalea, Daylily, Annuals, Perennials, Catalpa

https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Final Word

If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and be active. You can join on our website. Meetings are open to non-members also. Come meet some other beekeepers and find out what RPBBA is all about.

If you have not volunteered for the Honey Bee Festival, please do so. This is a major (and fun) even for our bee club.

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

-Hollee

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

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This is the official Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers email. RPBBA will never share your email with anyone outside of the organization or for non-club-related business without your permission. If you wish to update your email or be removed from our email list please complete this form.

Hello Hello beekeepers and honey bee enthusiasts!

April has proven to be quite busy in many apiaries. We are into the thick of the season with flowers blooming and the temperature stabilizing a bit. Your hive inspections are probably focused on watching for signs of swarming, looking for eggs, making sure the queen has space to lay, and adding boxes for honey production.

Calendar of Events

Monday, May 8th – RPBBA Monthly Meeting, 7pm RPNC

Monday, May 15th – Beekeeping Study Group, 7pm RPNC

Monday, May 22th – Honey Bee Festival Planning Committee, 7pm RPNC

May Meeting- During the May meeting we will discuss what to do in the hive this month and going into summer. We will also have a short report-out from the HBF committee leads. Add to Google Calendar

Honey Bee Festival – Saturday, June 24th Add to Google Calendar

The swarm is coming on June 24th from 10 am-2 pm! Leading up to the festival, please consider the following:

1. Volunteering on the day of the festival (and/or the Friday before) The festival is larger this year and therefore, we need more volunteers:)

You can sign up for the following committee(s):

•Operations

•Vendors

•Publicity

•Guest Experiences (plantings/club table)

•Education

•Children’s Area

•Bake Sale

You do not have to be a beekeeper or a member of a bee club to volunteer. Volunteers can be kids, family, friends, co-workers, etc. The only requirement is a smile, flexibility and a willingness to help. All volunteers receive a free HBF tee-shirt, learn a lot and have a ton of fun!

If interested in volunteering, please complete this form rockwoodbeekeepers.com/volunteer-sign-up/ The lead for the committee that you select will contact you with further information.

2. Other Ways to Pitch In We have several sign-up’s open to support our committee’s. Here’s how you can help

👉Choose something to bake for the Bake Sale

👉Loan the club a canopy or table

👉Allow RPBBA to extract your honey supers

👉Supply drones for the Drone Petting Zoo

3. Spread the Word What fun is a festival without attendees? Word of mouth and social media are helpful tools to invite others. We have information about the festival on our website, a flier, and an event setup on Facebook. All can be shared. Please help to spread the buzz so we can make this year’s festival a success.

Beekeeping Study Group

For those who have never checked it out, the study group is a great way for RPBBA members to further their beekeeping knowledge. Several members are studying for the annual VSBA Apprentice and Journeyman exams. However there is no requirement for attendees to pursue certification. The study group is open to all members who want to learn. During the study group sessions, questions from the VSBA Apprentice Study Guide VSBA Apprentice Study Guide are posed for the group to discuss and answer together. There is much to learn during open discussion with our peers!

The study group meets monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month. The next meeting will be held on Monday, May 15th at 7pm at the Rockwood Park Nature Center.

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Beekeeper: Mr. C

Q: How long have you been a beekeeper and how many hives do you manage?

I’ve been a beekeeper for 2 years. I have 4 beehives now.

Q: What inspired you to become a beekeeper?

I watched a beekeeper work a beehive and I found it to be very interesting. I wanted to learn more about it. After watching a lot of YouTube videos, I decided that I wanted to try it.

Q: What is the best thing about beekeeping for you?

For me, it’s watching the honeybees work. They go in and out of the hive with purpose.

Q: What’s challenging about beekeeping for you?

I still find it hard to read the bees. They do things that tell you what’s on their minds. I sometimes miss their clues, such as when they are preparing to swarm or when an emerging queen will return.

Q: What fun, surprising story would you like to share?

During the first year of beekeeping when I had a hive in my yard, one of my neighbors delivered a note letting me know how much she appreciated me keeping bees. The note said that she hadn’t seen honeybees pollinating her flowers in years. I thought that was pretty cool.

Q: In what ways do you feel like you are making an impact on the environment and/or the community?

I know I have contributed to the pollination of the flowers in my urban area. I have also shared what I have learned about beekeeping to my neighbors who have stopped and asked questions about what I was doing.

Beekeepers Out and About & in the News

Rick McCormick was selected as the 2023 Chesterfield Community Champion in the senior category and recognized by the Board of Supervisors on April 26th! Rick is always willing to lend a hand to novice and more experienced beekeepers. He is friendly, flexible and is always in “teacher-mode”. We are happy to have him in the RPBBA as he lends his time and expertise to work with novice beekeepers and Master Gardeners using the Chesterfield Cooperative Extension hive. Rick also works with students and staff at Maymont, Peter Paul Development Center, and a host of other schools and organizations.

Way to go, Rick !! We salute you.

Gene DiSalvo presented at Career Day at David A. Kaechele Elementary School on April 14th There was a great deal of enthusiasm about the bees. The observation hive was a big hit and held its own against some pretty cool construction equipment and emergency vehicles that were also present. Gene was impressed by the students’ knowledge about the importance of bees and the challenges they are facing. Huge thanks to Rick McCormick, Stan Houk and Carla Parks for loaning the educational supplies used at the event.

Hollee Freeman talked with students and faculty at the University of Richmond about beekeeping and urban ecology. It was an informative experience for all. We briefly talked about getting the UR apiary going again!

Save the Date: Virginia State Beekeepers Association Spring Meeting

Registration is open for the spring meeting of the Virginia State Beekeepers Association. Register at https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/

2023 Bumblebee Jamboree

Contact Rick McCormick is heading up this fun family event sponsored by the Chesterfield Master Gardeners of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Come on out to volunteer and encourage your friends, family and neighborhood to volunteer as well.

This Month in the Hive (May)

This month, hives should be buzzing. You may be able to see pollen being brought into the hive since this is peak egg laying season for the queen. Your hives may be bursting with bees. The brood nest will extend across 7-8 frames and may reach into 2 full brood boxes in your stronger hives by the end of the month.

A strong hive may collect and store as much as 7 lbs of nectar per sunny, bright day. The bees will combine the nectar with enzymes they produce, and place the nectar in honeycomb cells to evaporate the nectar and age it into honey. Honey will be capped when it reaches under 18% water content. A strong hive working on a good nectar flow in May can cap as much as 80 pounds of mature honey during this month.

If the queen has over-wintered with the hive, then watch for queen cells/signs of swarming. Make certain that the queen has enough room to lay 800-1000 eggs per day, and that she may do so for the entire 21 day cycle for production of a worker. This will mean that a queen in peak fertility will need at least 1 deep and 1 medium super for brood production. (Many beekeepers provide 2 deep brood boxes for this purpose.) If the brood production area has become honey-bound (more than ½ the brood frames are more than ½ full of honey), then provide a larger brood nest or remove honey frames and substitute foundation.

Watch for a failing or disappeared queen. If all the brood is drone brood, then the queen is failing, or has disappeared and been replaced by laying workers. If this occurs, you should combine the queenless hive with a queenright hive or take other steps to requeen the hive.

At the end of May, look out for wax moths. These 1/2 inch wide, gray moths sneak into the hive at night and lay eggs in corners and other places where the bees are unable to remove the eggs. The adult moths will be harassed and forced to leave a strong hive, and eggs will be covered with propolis if not removed. In a weak hive, the eggs will hatch and begin a path of destructive chewing and defecating through the brood combs. Combine weak hives, reduce the size of the brood box, or reduce the entrance to discourage moth entry to weak hives.

Inspect the hive weekly. If you reversed the brood boxes earlier in the year, you may need to do so a second time in May or June. Consider doing so if the lower brood box is nearly empty of brood and the upper brood box is crowded. Make certain that each hive has more than enough supers to store the honey harvest.

Attend your bee club meetings and useful workshops. Make notes of which flowers/trees/shrubs bloom at which times. Order labels, bottles and caps, if needed. Buy, reserve or borrow extracting equipment for late June or July. Order queens for July hive splits. On strong hives, remove the mouse guard if you have not yet done so, unless you are using a mouse guard made of 1/2 inch hardware cloth, which does not obstruct air or bee movement.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

Bee Vocabulary – “Wax Scales”

The wax glands are located in the lower part of the young worker’s abdomen, and release wax when the worker is about 12 days old. About six days later, the gland degenerates and the worker stops comb-building. The wax is discharged as a liquid and hardens to small flakes or scales and sits in wax pockets.

Looking To Expand Your Pollinator Garden?

This month Tulip Poplar, Black Locust, Wild Blackberry, Privet, Persimmon, yellow rocket, and Sweet Clover will bloom. Alsike Clover, Crimson Clover, Ladino (White Clover), Black Gum, poison ivy, Vetch, Holly, and Raspberries will also bloom this month. At the end of the month, hawthorn hedges will add their nectar.

Regional native plant guides are available that highlight the beautiful variety of Virginia’s native plants. PDF versions are free. Virginia Capital Region native plants provide visual beauty year round. Local native plants support more wildlife species than non-native plants. Native trees, shrubs, and vines that feed the insects, birds, and animals are essential for maintaining biodiversity. Local native plants are adapted to local temperature and rainfall fluctuations. Spraying pesticides for insects or diseases is generally not necessary for native Plants. The guide for RVA area natives can be viewed here: https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plant-rva-natives

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

1st Week: Maple, Birch, Oak, Cherry, Pear, Silver Bell, Crabapple, Dogwood, Redbud, Camellia, Pearlbush, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Forsythia, Boxwood, Flowering Quince, Barberry, Azalea, Periwinkle, Narcissus, Candy tuft, Violets, Tulip, Pansy, Wildflowers

2nd Week: Crabapple, Silver Bell, Cherry, Dogwood, Redbud, Boxwood, Flowering Quince, Wisteria, Barberry, Lilac, Azalea, Periwinkle, Narcissus, Candy tuft, Violet, Pansy, Tulip, Wildflowers

3rd Week: Azalea, Dogwood, Cherry, wisteria, Violet, Pansy, Tulip, Lilac, Barberry, Periwinkle, Candy tuft, Wildflowers

4th Week: Azalea, Dogwood, Wisteria, Violet, Pansy, Tulip, Lilac, Periwinkle, Candy tuft, Wildflowers

https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Final Word

The bees are busy and we are busy. Please make time to come out to meetings and to our festivals. You can join the RPBBA on our website. Meetings are open to non-members. Come meet some other beekeepers and find out what RPBBA is all about.

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or announcements, please let me know.

Enjoy your bees!

-Hollee

Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

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This is the official Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers email. RPBBA will never share your email with anyone outside of the organization or for non-club-related business without your permission. If you wish to update your email or be removed from our email list please complete this form.

Hello beekeepers and honey bee enthusiasts!

This is an exciting & challenging time in the lives of beekeepers! The blossoms are showing their beauty and sharing their sweet scents. This means that your honey bee population is probably increasing and possibly preparing to swarm. You may have even experienced a swarm or two or four already!

Swarming occurs when the population of bees is too large for the volume of space in the hive. In order to (try to) mitigate a swarm, increase the frequency of your hive inspections and be on the lookout for signs of swarming. This is a good time to make splits if you have a crowded hive or add another box on top (as needed) to increase the volume inside the hive.

Keep the RPBBA Swarm Line handy to share with friends, neighbors, anyone who may need help with a swarm. Encourage people that you meet to call the swarm line instead of using pesticides or calling an exterminator.

RPBBA Swarm Line

(804) 404-BEE1 or (804) 404-2331

April Calendar of Events (all meetings take place at Rockwood Park Nature Center)

Monday, April 10th @7pm – Monthly Club meeting

Monday, April 17th @7pm – Study group

Monday, April 24th @ 7pm – Honey Bee Festival Planning Committee meeting

April Meeting

During our April meeting Stan will present a workshop on making splits and preparing for honey production. This workshop will be tailored to all experience levels. If you’re a new beek don’t be afraid to jump right in! Add to Google Calendar

2023 Honey Bee Festival will be held on Saturday, June 24th from 10am-2pm Add to Google Calendar

Huge thanks to our HBF co-chairs and volunteer committee leads who are well underway with festival planning.

We are at capacity with vendors and the vendor sign-up has been removed from our website. If you missed out on becoming a vendor, keep your eyes open in the months ahead. If something falls through and a spot becomes available, we may reopen the sign-up.

There are many opportunities to participate in this year’s festival. Committees include: operations, guest experiences (plantings & club table), education, children’s area, bake sale, and publicity. In addition to day-of volunteers, we are also looking for help on Friday evening with setup and Saturday with take down.

Volunteers can be anyone, not just RPBBA members. Beekeeping experience or knowledge is NOT required. The only requirement is a willingness to help. If you need service credit just know that RPBBA is a non-profit organization. Volunteers are provided a free Honey Bee Festival t-shirt and we promise to provide an enjoyable experience with good company. More details, including a signup form, can be found here: rockwoodbeekeepers.com/volunteer-sign-up/

In particular, the festival needs a cadre of volunteers for the operations/logistics committee. This committee is the ‘bones’ of the festival and needs volunteers to help direct traffic (vehicular and human), picking up supplies, repairing equipment, making sure other committees have what they need, etc. Operations help is needed in advance to prepare for the big day. Many helping hands makes for less work.

The RPBBA Bake Sale tent is a major source of funds that allows our club to conduct the festival each year. We are on the lookout for anyone who can bake and/or donate items to the club for sale at the festival. Cookies, cakes, pies, anything goes (with proper labeling). Can’t bake? How about donating a case of water? More details including the signup form, can be found here: https://rockwoodbeekeepers.com/bake-sale-sign-up/

Virginia State Beekeepers Association

Registration is open for the spring meeting of the Virginia State Beekeepers Association. Register at https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/

2023 Bumblebee Jamboree

Contact Rick McCormick is heading up this fun family event sponsored by the Chesterfield Master Gardeners of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Come on out to volunteer and encourage your friends, family and neighborhood to volunteer as well.

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Beekeepers: Carla & Stan

Q: How long have you been beekeepers and how many hives do you manage?

Carla & Stan: Chestnut Ridge Garden has been in existence since 1988, but the first bees were placed into hives here in the Spring of 2015. We currently run twenty production hives and an ever-changing quantity of nucs.

Q: What inspired you to become a beekeeper?

Carla: Stan’s father had been a beekeeper for a brief time when he was young and the sight of beekeeping equipment brought back some great memories. We became friends with local beekeepers Kristi and Harlan, who helped us get connected with Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers.

Stan: My dad was a beekeeper. I had severe allergies as a kid, which honey cured. Carla bought me a hive for Xmas

Q: What is the best thing about beekeeping for you?

Carla: We really enjoy the enhanced connection to the natural world, and appreciate the wide range of amazing people we’ve had the pleasure to meet through beekeeping.

Stan: Getting so many great friends who are beekeepers.

Q: What’s challenging about beekeeping for you?

Carla: It seems we can always make more bees, but the one thing we can’t make more of is time, but maybe that’s more of a “life-in-general” challenge. There NEVER seems to be enough time…

Stan: Finding enough time to properly take care of our bees.

Q: What fun, surprising story would you like to share?

Carla: In the Fall of 2014, we went to our local farmer’s co-op to buy cracked corn and sunflower seeds. Upon entering, we saw a shiny new display of beekeeping equipment! After watching him reminisce, I went back alone the next day to buy a full hive set-up as a Christmas gift for Stan. To say that this impulse purchase changed the trajectory of our lives would be an understatement!

Stan: Getting a call about a swarm, going and capturing it and coming home to a swarm in our backyard.

Q: In what ways do you feel like you are making an impact on the environment and/or the community?

Carla: In addition to helping with the Rockwood study group, we share bee knowledge at every possible opportunity… from customers at the farmers market to the unsuspecting stranger that comments on a bee-themed hat, T-shirt or jewelry. No one is safe from receiving the gospel of the bee. We are regularly contacted by friends of friends, family or customers when spring swarm season hits, and this is another incredible educational opportunity in a most unexpected situation!

Stan:

By teaching the public about the importance of bees and being environmentally conscious. Helping fellow beekeepers become better beekeepers and for them to tell the others about bees.

Bee Vocabulary – “Brood Nest”

Bees will use the available cells across frames for various purposes. They will use some cells to store pollen or honey. Other cells will be created for worker, drone or queen cells, which are collectively called the brood nest.

LIST: Common Beekeeping Terms You Should Know – Backyard Beekeeping

This Month in the Hive (April)

On cold days, the bees continue to form a cluster. The brood nest may be as much as 10 inches in diameter, however, and all the bees may be needed to prevent brood death due to chilling on the coldest nights. The brood nest continues its slow migration upward into empty honeycomb. The bees continue to bring pollen and nectar into the hive. The queen is laying several hundred eggs per day at the beginning of the month, and the population is growing fast. At the end of the month, the queen will lay 800-1000 eggs per day. The worker population will double this month. Drones will number above 200 by month end.

A congested hive in April will lead to swarms in the last week of April and early May. Congestion exists where the combination of honey, pollen, brood and bees fills 80% or more of the available space. In a congested hive (for reasons about which there is no consensus) the worker bees begin to raise new queens in April. This is done by building “swarm cells” – peanut-like wax cells that often hang down between brood supers, or on the face of brood frames. From egg deposition to hatching is 16 days for a new queen. A hive that is storing honey by April 20 is a hive to watch for swarming.

Henbit, wild mustard, dandelions, redbuds, pears, cherries, “Japanese” magnolias, plums, shadbush, chickweed, and many ornamental shrubs will provide substantial amounts of pollen and sufficient nectar for brood production on sunny days. Many hives that have consumed sugar syrup in March will cease taking it in early April. By mid-April, apples, peaches, crab apples, American holly and autumn olive may begin to supply ample amounts of nectar and some very strong hives will begin to make and cap honey. At the end of the month, nectar flows will be strong from many sources.

Pick up and install packages of bees or nucleus hives. Packages are delivered in Northern Virginia each week during April and early May. Nucleus hives may be available, but they should have been requested or ordered in the prior year.

Generally, it should be understood that swarms are not good for honey production. Hive bodies should be reversed when the likelihood of 4 or more days of consistent cold (45 degrees or less) weather has passed, or around April 1 in most years. This will reduce congestion by encouraging the queen to expand egg-laying upward and outward into empty brood frames.

Remove any feeders where the syrup becomes moldy. Remove a feeder when 1 quart is not consumed in 1 week.

Place a bait hive for swarms nearby if you have decided to use such a hive. Be prepared to place a queen excluder and honey supers on top of the hive by the 4th week in April. On a warm and still day, do a complete inspection of the hive. Can you find any evidence of the queen? Are there plenty of eggs and brood? Is there a compact pattern to her egg laying? If not, locate a new queen and replace any weak or failing queen.

The final touches should be put on new hives and supers that will soon be full of bees and honey. Package bees should be installed as early as possible this month to take advantage of the heavy nectar flows at month end. Watch out for evidence of swarming (queen cells; live queen with no fresh eggs; queen that is reduced in size to fly with swarm). Remove frames with queen cells to a nucleus hive (with at least 2 frames of bees) or cut the queen cells from the frames and use them to requeen weak hives, or destroy them.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

1st Week: Maple, Birch, Oak, Cherry, Pear, Silver Bell, Crabapple, Dogwood, Redbud, Camellia, Pearlbush, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Forsythia, Boxwood, Flowering Quince, Barberry, Azalea, Periwinkle, Narcissus, Candy tuft, Violets, Tulip, Pansy, Wildflowers

2nd Week: Crabapple, Silver Bell, Cherry, Dogwood, Redbud, Boxwood, Flowering Quince, Wisteria, Barberry, Lilac, Azalea, Periwinkle, Narcissus, Candy tuft, Violet, Pansy, Tulip, Wildflowers

3rd Week: Azalea, Dogwood, Cherry, wisteria, Violet, Pansy, Tulip, Lilac, Barberry, Periwinkle, Candy tuft, Wildflowers

4th Week: Azalea, Dogwood, Wisteria, Violet, Pansy, Tulip, Lilac, Periwinkle, Candy tuft, Wildflowers

https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Happy Beekeeping!

-Hope to see you all at the meeting on April 10th at 7pm at Rockwood Park Nature Center.

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

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Hello beekeepers and honeybee enthusiasts,

Are you ready for spring yet? Some days it feels like spring already! It won’t be long before the nectar flow is on and swarm season begins. Many of you may be seeing bees bringing in pollen already! If you do not have your equipment ready for spring, it’s crunch time. Pull your boxes from storage, assemble extra frames, apply a fresh coat of paint to the outside of boxes as needed. You do not want to be in the middle of a hive inspection and realize you need equipment that’s not ready to go!

Huge thanks to Dr. Zac Lamas and the Huguenot Beekeepers Association for a great joint meeting. Dr. Lamas shared with us everything we wanted to know about Varroa mites and mite research that we were afraid to ask. We all left with tons of great information.

📢March Meeting

Speaking of spring. For our March meeting, we will discuss the preparations the bees are making for spring and what to look for to stay ahead of swarming. John Davis has a presentation prepared for us and if you have ever spent any time with John, you know that he is a wealth of experience and information. We know that there’s a lot of information and mis-information on social media as folks are noticing how busy their bees are, all the comb and brood that seems to increase overnight, and the impact of the weather on all of this. SO, get in your car, put on some good music and come on out to this meeting and get some valuable information that you can immediately use.

Click here for Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Calendar of Events

Saturday, March 11th – Beginner Beekeeping class Day 4 at Dandelion Springs Apiary

Monday, March 13th – RPBBA Monthly Meeting at Rockwood Park Nature Center (topic: Swarming and spring management with John Davis).

Monday, March 20th – Study Group meeting at Rockwood Park Nature Center

Here are some other meetings that you may like to attend to support your beekeeping journey:

State Apiarist Keith Tignor is hosting a lecture and hands-on demo titled: Starting and Growing in Beekeeping on March 8th at VSU. Click on the link for details https://www.ext.vsu.edu/events/2023/3/8-starting-bees

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)

Mark your calendar now for the VSBA Spring/Summer meeting on Saturday, June 10 & 11th @ Sweet Briar College.

Beautiful Sweet Briar College is the perfect campus for this convening of beekeepers! There are on-site dorm and hotel options, a large vendor area, multiple workshops including apiary workshops, tours of the pollinator meadows and greenhouses, honey show prep, honey bee microscopy, master beekeeper exams and practicals. There’s also a list of fantastic speakers who will engage beekeepers at all levels of knowledge and experience. Mark your calendar, registration opens April 1. More information about the conference can be found on the VSBA website: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/

Bumblebee Jamboree

Join us the next weekend on Saturday, June 17th from 10:30am-2:30pm for Bumblebee Jamboree held at Maymont Children’s Farm. This is a great community event with activities such as planting stations, observation bee hives, storytimes, pollinator games & snacks, children’s crafts and more. This event is sponsored by the Chesterfield Master Gardeners of the Virginia Cooperative Extension and headed up by our own, Rick McCormick. Come on out to volunteer and encourage your friends, family and neighborhood to come on out as well.

2023 Honey Bee Festival Add to Google Calendar

To keep the excitement going, we are having our Honey Bee Festival on Saturday, June 24th from 10am-2pm at the Rockwood Nature Center and festival planning is well underway! Bill Crouch and Keith Ebbeskotte have volunteered to co-chair the 2023 Festival. Huge thanks to Bill and Keith.

We have a terrific team of volunteer committee leads: Emma Cummings, Robert Johnston, Will Wagoner, Holly Monger, Jacob Schwartz, Kyree Tanner, Sherry Giese, Don Osborne, Sherry Kelley, Hollee Freeman, Bill Kusnierz, Donna Eissler, Genelle Pollock, Mr. C, Pam Kimball, and Alice/Walt McIntyre. With such an experienced group leading the charge, this year’s festival is sure to be a success.

As many of you know, space was tight at last year’s festival. Luckily, our leadership teamed up with Chesterfield County for a solution. We’re swarming! Just kidding. More accurately, our hive is growing. The festival grounds will be expanded across Rockwood Park. A rough blueprint is available for those looking to catch a glimpse of the expanded festival grounds. This new Festival footprint provides great opportunities for us to get even more creative on how we use the Festival to support RPBBAs mission.

Sign-ups are open. Here’s an overview (which can also be found on our website)

Call for Volunteers Last year we were blessed to have about 125 volunteers lend a helping hand. With our new, expanded, festival footprint we will need that many and more. Volunteers do not have to be beekeepers or a member of our club or know anything about bees. Volunteers can be kids, family, friends, etc. The only requirement is a willingness to help. We can certainly find a way to use volunteers and are thankful for all the help we can get! Volunteers are provided a free Honey Bee Festival t-shirt. More details, including a signup form, can be found here: rockwoodbeekeepers.com/volunteer-sign-up/

Interested in Bee-ing a Vendor? We are looking for vendors to join us at our 2023 Honey Bee Festival. Space is available for single or double spaces and food trucks. We’re looking for vendors that sell items related to our mission- supporting bees, pollinators, plants and/or nature related– with at least a portion of items hand crafted. Sound like you or someone you know? More details, including fees, and an application form can be found here: rockwoodbeekeepers.com/bee-a-vendor/

ISO Educational Exhibitors Our expanded festival footprint allows us to expand our educational offering during the festival. We are now able to offer a FREE 15’x10 exhibitor space to non-profit organizations with complimentary objectives (e.g. educators, gardening clubs, environmental groups, bee clubs,etc) that support beekeeping and bees, pollinators, plants and/or nature related. More details including exhibitor requirements and an application form can be found here: rockwoodbeekeepers.com/bee-an-exhibitor/

📢 Calling All Swarm Chasers

We have a list of folks on our website (rockwoodbeekeepers.com) who are at the ready to remove swarms. Sometimes swarms can be easily removed; other times it requires an extensive cut-out. Emails are routed to active members in the club who have expressed interest in capturing swarms. These requests are immediate and you should have the flexibility to drop everything and help on short notice. If you are not already on the swarm list and would like to be, signup here. Even if you do not have the experience to go get the swarm yourself, you might want to tag along with an experienced beekeeper to see how it is done.

Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Beekeeper: Jody Wienckowski Conway

Q: How long have you been a beekeeper and how many hives do you manage?

A: I have been a beekeeper since 2013 and I help manage about 35 hives.

Q: What inspired you to become a beekeeper?

A: I didn’t see bees on flowers as I walked to and from my job as a pharmacist.

Q: What is the best thing about beekeeping for you?

A: The best thing about beekeeping is there is ALWAYS more to learn!

Q: What’s challenging about beekeeping for you?

A: The weight of the boxes and being allergic to bee stings. The mites are challenging too.

Q: What fun, surprising story would you like to share?

A: I love that the bees have brought me back to plants, native and medicinal plants and being a better steward of our precious Earth.

Q: In what ways do you feel like you are making an impact on the environment?

A: I’m learning to be better for the bees, for us, and for the Earth – not using chemicals, being regenerative, making conscious choices to be better and to do better every day. The best thing is being able to share with others and help others be better stewards as well. The impact of my efforts and continued learning and all of the things that benefit. What a beautiful community that the bees inspire and bring together!

(the pic is Jody with her first swarm in the bucket)

📰Beekeepers in the News

Chestnut Ridge Garden (Carla & Stan) joined the Violet Bank Garden Club during their monthly meeting on Monday, February 20th which included an early showing of spring blooms, including jonquils, narcissus, Lenten roses and flowering quince. After a delicious luncheon with bee-themed decor, Chestnut Ridge Garden gave a presentation on honey bees and beekeeping which was jam-packed with photos of garden blooms and bees with lots of facts and anecdotes. It was a great day of fun and learning all around!

Hollee Freeman had a busy February. She spoke with 60+ 1st graders (who were all in one classroom!) at Carver ES in Richmond about honey bees and beekeeping. She also gave a presentation at Henderson MS in Richmond and was a participant on a podcast talking about the connection between honey bees and crop production.

If you do cool stuff in the community about bees, shoot and email to the Rockwood Club for a feature in the newsletter. rockwood.beekeepers

This Month in the Hive (March)

In March, the days become longer and the queen steadily increases her rate of egg laying. The brood nest will expand and migrate upward into areas where honey has been consumed. The brood nest is now 6-8 inches across, and may extend across several frames. As much as 75- 100 cells of drone brood may be seen at the end of the month. More brood means more honey, nectar and pollen are consumed. A few drones begin to appear toward the end of the month. The bees will continue to consume honey stores. They will also bring in a fair amount of nectar and pollen, but not as much as is consumed.

The hive may consume as much as 7 lbs per week (net of inflow) when cold, rain, snow, or icy conditions prevail. Make sure the hive does not tilt backward. It should slightly tilt forward to shed rain from the bottom board.

Prevent starvation by making certain that food supplies are sufficient. Maple nectar and pollen continue to be very important to population buildup. Willows may bloom in wet, sheltered valleys. In some parts of Virginia, ornamental and exotic shrubs supply small amounts of pollen. Crocus, daffodil, and other flowering bulbs will also supply some pollen. Boxwood, quince, hackberries, forsythia, and elms will supply variety in the pollen sources. Some early dandelions may bloom at the end of the month.

If using a screened bottom board, you should resist the urge to remove the insert. Leave it in until consistent warmer weather arrives in late April. In late March, you may consider reversing the deep brood supers, or the medium supers that some beekeepers use for brood. This will allow for a better distribution of the brood, and stimulate the growth of the colony. If the brood nest extends across the brood supers, do not reverse until there is a large enough population to keep both halves of the brood nest from death due to chilling.

On a sunny day early in the month, when there is little wind and the bees are flying, have a quick look inside the hive. A temperature above 54 degrees should do for this task. Remove frames for a quick inspection. Inspect for disease and see that the queen is laying. Eggs laid in January and February will all be hatched into new workers by mid-late March and the population will be much higher than in January. You may wan to add a pollen patty if you have not yet done so but be careful to add a small piece and watch carefully-you don’t want to entice mites.

Look for drone brood along the bottom edges of frames with brood. Remove some drone brood with a cappings scratcher and look for Varroa mites. If you find Varroa in 30% or more of the drone brood cells, perform a mite count, and decide whether to treat for mites. Be sure to chheck for remaining honey and pollen stores. Food stores can run dangerously low until a heavy nectar flow starts. It may be necessary to continue feeding the hive.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

Bee in the Know with your Bee Vocabulary – “split”

If you have a large, healthy hive, it is possible to create a new colony from it by making what is called a split. The basic concept of making a split is that you take a portion of an established colony and transfer it to a separate hive thereby creating two colonies. There are many reasons for making a split. Some beekeepers make splits to increase their apiary or to sell to other beekeepers. Others use splits as a form of swarm control, mite control or to reduce the size of a large colony.

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

2nd Week: Maple, Elm, Star Magnolia, Cornelean Cherry, Mahonia, Forsythia Pieris, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Crocus, Jonquil, Periwinkle, Pansy, Wildflowers

3rd Week: Maple, Elm, Star Magnolia, Cornelian Cherry, Mahonia, Forsythia, Flowering Quince, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Pieris, Crocus, Jonquil, Pansy, Periwinkle, Wildflowers

4th Week: Maple, Elm, Magnolia, Callery Pear, Cornelian Cherry, Sweet-Breath-of-Spring, Mahonia, Pieris, Forsythia, Boxwood, Flowering Quince, Crocus, Periwinkle, Narcissus, Pansy, Candytuft, Wildflowers

https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Final Word

If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. Please participate in meetings and volunteer to help with the Bumblebee Jamboree and the Honey Bee Festival.

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

*****************************************************************************
This is the official Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers email. RPBBA will never share your email with anyone outside of the organization or for non-club-related business without your permission. If you wish to update your email or be removed from our email list please complete this form.

Hello beekeepers and honeybee enthusiasts,

February is a busy month full of events for Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers. We have the Beginner Beekeeping Class meeting twice this month, Honey Bee Festival planning, our monthly meeting with Dr. Zac Lamas, and the Study Group all happening in February!

🐝 2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course

The first session of the 2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course was chock-full of information (and people). It truly was “like drinking from a firehose”. For those of you in the class, don’t stress, there are plenty of people and resources to support you on your beekeeping journey.

The next session will be held on Saturday, February 11th at 9am at Dandelion Springs Apiary. The address for Dandelion Springs is:

11011 Beaver Bridge Rd

Chesterfield, VA 23838

The course is full and registration is closed. For those enrolled, if you do not have your calendar marked already, you can Add to Google Calendar now. The class meets twice this month, Saturday, February 11th and 25th.

As a reminder, RPBBA practices reciprocity with the Huguenot Beekeeping Association (HBA). Participants who are unable to make a class at RPBBA, may attend and receive the same instruction at HBA. Both clubs offer the same course on alternating Saturday’s.

2023 Honey Bee Festival Planning

Planning has begun and the date has been set for June 24th at Rockwood Park. We are finalizing team leads and then we ask for volunteers. As you know, we will need a lot of volunteers to make the HBF a success! Beeeeeeee prepared to get involved, it’s great fun!

February Meeting

This month our meeting will be held in conjunction with the Huguenot Beekeepers Association @7pm at the Powhatan Village Building Auditorium located at 3910 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan, VA 23139. Dr. Zac Lamas will discuss Varroa Mites. This is a presentation that you do not want to miss.

Add to Google Calendar

VSBA Master Beekeeping Study Group

The study group will be held on Feb 21st at the Chesterfield Library located at 325 Courthouse Road at 6:30pm.

For those who have never checked it out, the study group is a great way for RPBBA members to further their beekeeping knowledge. Several members are studying for the annual VSBA Apprentice and Journeyman exams. However, there is no requirement for attendees to pursue certification. The study group is open to all members who want to learn. During the study group sessions, questions from the VSBA Apprentice Study Guide are posed for the group to discuss and answer together. There is much to learn during open discussion with our peers!

Those interested to attend are encouraged to download the guide in advance and start working through the questions on their own. Add to Google Calendar

Have You Reserved Your Bees For 2023?

Whether you’re a 1st time beekeeper, or looking to replace a colony that didn’t make it through Winter, there are resources for you to source live bees locally.

For those looking to purchase Nucs, Packages or Queen’s check out our 2023 Resources* The time is now to start reserving your order(s).

*This is simply a list of local suppliers; RPBBA does not endorse or give preference. Buyers are encouraged to do their own research before making their decision to purchase from any supplier.

Bee Vocabulary – “Pheromones”

Did you know that the Queen gives off pheromones to prevent workers from developing ovaries?!

The queen regulates the goings-on of the colony by emitting chemical blends (pheromones) from her mandibular glands (saclike glands located inside the head above the base of the mandible). The queen’s pheromones are often called the ‘queen signal’. The queen signal is a primer pheromone that keeps the colony in homeostasis (e.g. worker cohesion, inhibition of worker reproduction, and stimulation of worker activities).

When the queen is weak or dies, the low/no pheromonal signal drives workers to rear new queens. If there’s no young brood present in the colony, the workers become disorganized, stop doing their tasks and begin laying unfertilized eggs. The colony becomes unclean and more susceptible to diseases and prey. The hive population dwindles and in most cases, is doomed.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Beekeepers in the News

Gene DiSalvo and Rick McCormick buzzed into the Anna Julia Cooper School (AJCS) at the end of January to speak with students about the importance of bees. AJCS is a K-8, independent, faith-based, full-tuition scholarship school serving students from limited financial resources in Richmond’s East End.

Rick led 50 minute sessions with Kindergarten, First Grade, Sixth Grade girls and Sixth Grade boys classes. The informal learning discussions featured lots of questions back and forth from both Rick and the students. The students were fully engaged and even the classroom teachers commented about what they were learning about bees! Rick was assisted in these discussions by Buzz, his loyal hand puppet, and Gene DiSalvo, who coordinated these sessions with the AJCS staff.

AJCS requested that Rick and his bees return to the school in the Springtime. The school is also interested in getting support with their school garden. RPBBA is happy to help them with a Pollinator Garden Starter pack! It’s great to have beekeepers that are also Master Gardeners 🙂

Hollee Freeman gave a presentation to close to 200 people at Creative Mornings Richmond where she talked about finding sanctuary when working with bees.

Thanks to everyone who talks with individuals, as well as, in small and large groups about beekeeping. Every little bit helps people understand the importance of honeybees in our ecosystem and just may encourage folks to become part of the beekeeping community or become bee-friendly in their gardens.

This Month in the Hive (February)

The cluster is still tight on most days. The cluster will break and move on days where the temperature exceeds 57 degrees in the hive. The queen remains in the cluster, and as the days lengthen, she will begin to lay a few more eggs each day. At this point, there are still no drones in the hive and workers will take cleansing flights on mild days.

As the cluster remains centered around the small brood nest, it will migrate upward as the lowest rows of capped brood hatch. The cluster will not quickly move up into new areas of honey after the brood nest forms, and mild days are important to the bees’ ability to move honey/pollen toward the cluster.

Around mid-February, maples begin to blossom and supply nectar and fresh pollen that are extraordinarily valuable to the growth of the hive. The maple blossom continues through mid-March. In areas of higher elevation, the maple blossoms start and end 7-14 days later. The bees will consume about 20 pounds of honey stores and nectar from maples. Alders may bloom in some locations and provide valuable variety in pollen proteins.

Tip: On a day that exceeds 55 degrees, open the hive and quickly check for sufficient food supplies, signs of disease, and to see if the queen is laying. Place a pollen patty near (but not directly on top of) the brood nest. More colonies are probably lost during this time of year than during all other winter months. A colony that is rearing brood will consume about 7 pounds of honey and nectar per week, and if the weather turns bad, a colony with small food reserves can quickly starve to death. Never allow the food stores to drop below 15 pounds. If they have less than 15 pounds of honey, start feeding stored honey or thick sugar syrup (one part sugar to one part water.) Remember, once you start feeding, you need to continue feeding until the bees no longer consume the syrup, or until the end of April.

Consider whether to sign up for that “Advanced Beekeeper Course.” Attend bee club meetings and get equipment ready for spring. At this time of year, you may be advised to “reverse” the brood boxes on a hive with two brood boxes. It is too early in the year to perform this task with safety, so delay this task until you are confident that warmer weather has arrived. The first week of February may be a good time to add a pollen patty or candy board to a hive that is raising brood. If you enter the hive, you may consider moving a frame of honey from the outside of the hive to an area much closer to the brood nest. Do not place a frame of frozen honey immediately adjacent to the brood nest, however.

Decide now how you are going to deal with the issue of swarms in April, May and June. Read and study the options, and seek advice. Prepare a bait hive now if you are going to use it later in the spring. If you are going to use more equipment to hold queen cells and deal with swarms, then take steps to obtain that equipment. https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

Wintersweet, Witch Hazel, Conifers, Holly in Fruit

https://maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/

Final Word

If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

With February full of events,we will probably see a lot of each other!

Don’t forget to check out our Calendar of Events to keep up to date.

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

*****************************************************************************
This is the official Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers email. RPBBA will never share your email with anyone outside of the organization or for non-club-related business without your permission. If you wish to update your email or be removed from our email list please complete this form.

Subj: January Newsletter – RPBBA

Happy New Year beekeepers!

Top of mind for beekeepers is–how did the bees do with the sudden cold snap we had a couple of weeks ago? Hopefully everyone’s bees are hanging in there! In the event that some hives didn’t make it, don’t fret, there will be plenty of opportunities to begin again. Several club members will be selling nucs and queens as the spring approaches. There are also quite a few conferences, classes and other events on tap to get us ready for spring. Bring it on!

Jan. RPBBA Calendar of Events

📅 Monday, Jan 9th – RPBBA Monthly mtg @ 6pm. Topic: Pheromones with Dr. James Wilson at LaPrade Library. (note the change in time for this month. Meet & Greet from 6-6:30 pm. Meeting officially starts at 6:30).

📅 Friday, Jan 14th – Last day to sign up for the Beginner Beekeeping class for the low cost of $100. Price increases to $115 after 01/14. This is an important step for new beeks and veteran beeks who would like to brush up.

📅 Tuesday, Jan 17th RPBBA Study Group. 7-8pm @North Courthouse Road Library (note the change in date for this month). Open to all members.

📅Saturday, Jan 28th – 1st day of the Beginner Beekeeping class. 

2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course

The Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Association (RPBBA) is holding their annual Beginning Beekeeping Course over 4 Saturdays from end of January to beginning of March.

Attendees will receive instruction on the

🐝History, Hive organization & location, 🐝Woodenware and equipment,

🐝Dynamics of the Colony, 🐝Diseases, Pests and Predators,

🐝Getting Started, 🐝The Beekeeping Year, 🐝Floral Sources, and 🐝Bee Field Day (hands-on apiary day)

Class dates will be Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25, & Mar 11 alternating Saturday’s with the Huguenot Beekeepers Association (HBA). Participants who are unable to make a class at RPBBA, may attend and receive the same instruction at HBA. The course is $100 through Jan 21st and $115 thereafter. We are limited to 40 registrations; enrollment includes a 1-year membership to RPBBA. For more information, including a signup form, please see our website rockwoodbeekeepers.com/beginner-beekeeping.

Club News – 2023 Officers Announcement (in case you missed it in Dec. 🙂

The Board of Directors’ has installed the following slate of Officers for the 2023. 

Stan Houk, President

Sherry Kelley, Vice President

Theo Hartmann, Treasurer

Don Osborne, Secretary

Hollee Freeman, Communications

John Davis, Membership

Jody Conway, Registered Agent

The Membership role is new. This position was created with the intention of having a club member as a go-to for prospective RPBBA members and new members as well as a familiar face for our more experienced beekeepers to keep in touch. We know there are a lot of questions when you’re new to the club and/or new to beekeeping. Seasoned beekeepers know the learning never ends. Filling in a Membership role will also be a help for our Communications director who is often the first point of contact for many.

The Board of Directors is still on the hunt for a Honey Bee Festival Chair. If you have an interest, or questions, reach out and let us know. The club could use a helping hand to lead the charge. I realize the role is intimidating. Help is available; we promise, we will not let you fail.

Have You Reserved Your Bees For 2023?

Whether you’re a 1st time beekeeper, or looking to replace a colony that didn’t make it through Winter, there are resources for you to source live bees locally.

 

For those looking to purchase Nucs, Packages or Queen’s check out our 2023 Resources for Nucs, Packages & Queens*. The time is now to start reserving your order(s).

*This is simply a list of local suppliers; RPBBA does not endorse or give preference. Buyers are encouraged to do their own research before making their decision to purchase from any supplier. The Virginia Bee Law requires that honey bees on combs, hives and equipment with combs must be accompanied by a certificate of health issued by the Office of Plant Industry Services prior to being sold in Virginia. For information on this, please visit the VDACS website.

ISO RPBBA Members Willing to Bee a Mentor

A Mentor’s purpose is to help other members with things like installing packages/nucs, in-hive help, capturing swarms or general questions.

With the 2023 Beginner Beekeeping course kicking off in January,we will soon have new-bee’s looking for assistance. If you are a RPBBA member and willing to bee a Mentor, please sign up here. You must be willing to have your contact information shared with other RPBBA members.

The goal is to create a current list of willing mentors, with their general location, to share with those ISO a Mentor near them.

Bee Vocabulary – “torpor” as in: I’m not dead (yet), I’m just in torpor.

Friends, please resist the temptation to knock on the outside of your hives to see if they are alive. Torpor is a natural state of decreased physiological activity. By knocking on your hives, you will disrupt their torpor state and you may just kill them off without even knowing it. Here are some interesting nuggets to keep in mind: 

• Honeybees keep the hive temp in the cluster btw 54-57 degrees F.
• When you knock on the hive, the temp rises to about 80 degrees for about 5+ hours. 
• Approx ½ cup of food stores are needed to maintain this temp.

We want our ladies to waste their valuable energy during these cold months. So…buy an inexpensive stethoscope if you feel the overwhelming urge to listen for activity OR just be patient. Spring is coming. 

Beekeepers in the News (This info. was in the Dec. newsletter but we will give it another run since Drs. Wilson and Lamas are coming to speak with us.)

Could Carbon Dioxide Be a New Tool Against Varroa Mites?

If you missed the story, you can read it at:

https://entomologytoday.org/2022/08/02/carbon-dioxide-varroa-mite-management-honey-bees/

Citizen Science: Predicting Varroa Infestation in Virginia

Dr. Zac Lamas and Dr. James Wilson are working together along with Virginia beekeepers in 2023 to see if a new sampling methodology can predict mite infestations months before they actually occur. The project is simple, easily adoptable, and can be done by beekeepers of all skill levels. They need hobbyist beekeepers across Virginia to join in.

More information and a signup form below👇👇👇

Varroa is the leading cause of death of honey bee colonies. Despite years of research there is much we still don’t know about mites. New findings from the University of Maryland and USDA-ARS suggest an alternative sampling method may allow beekeepers to detect Varroa earlier than current sampling methods, nor does the new method require beekeepers to sacrifice handfuls of worker bees in the process. But we need your help!

Here is your chance to be a scientist! Beekeepers across Virginia are invited to join a citizen science project in 2023. Your participation will provide valuable data. We want to know if our new method works in Virginia, and if it in fact, can predict fall mite infestations months beforehand.

You do not need to provide much to participate. All you need is to sample a few of your own colonies each month, and then submit the results on a monthly questionnaire. Our team at Virginia Tech will provide instruction material, monthly zoom sessions, and Q&A support via e-mail.

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScW3ZUau6kO6G1EQfYhrbBBWtSsTmGKfSx6z5tgIq5y_1Y5Pw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&fbclid=IwAR3hDc800XbRhR6Ud40jlieGrgJ_dTcDhV4sAN-W-efAwNlMEgP72BT5I5w 🐝🐝🐝

Heart of Virginia Beekeepers 1st Annual Conference

The Heart of Virginia Beekeepers are hosting their FIRST annual beekeeping conference for the central region! The conference will feature two seminars from keynote speaker, Dr. David Tarpy, professor and extension specialist of honey bee biology and beekeeping at NC State University. His seminars will delve into diagnosing queen problems and coming out of winter. There will also be a selection of breakout sessions from which to choose, including integrated pest management, varroa treatments, reading the frame, commercial beekeeping, Slovenian style beekeeping, a forum on swarm prevention, and the indispensable nuc.

Sat, January 14th, 8:30am – 4:00pm

@Longwood University 201 High Street Farmville, VA 23909

For more information, including registration, visit

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/heart-of-virginia-beekeepers-1st-annual-conference-registration-440627598007

There are early admission tickets available though Dec 15th.

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)

Save the Date: Spring Meeting

June 10th 8:30am – 5pm &

June 11th 8:30am – 2pm

@Sweet Briar College 134 Chapel Dr Sweet Briar, VA24595

This Month in the Hive (January)

The Hive

This month the queen is surrounded by thousands of workers. She is in the midst of the winter cluster, where the temperature at the center is about 88 degrees F. At the periphery of the cluster, the temperature will drop to 42 degrees on the coldest nights. The worker bees continuously move in and out of the center of the cluster. The bees in the cluster flex their wing and thorax muscles to generate heat, and they consume honey that was stored in the previous year. 

The cluster will continuously move upward into new honey if it is available. On a day that reaches 45 degrees or more in the hive, the bees may be able to move the cluster upward or horizontally into new honey, or they may be able to move honey toward the cluster from other parts of the hive. On a warm day (50 degrees or more) the worker bees will leave the hive to take a cleansing flight, during which they defecate away from the hive. The workers will wait weeks for a warm day if necessary before flying. 

The queen will usually begin laying a small number of worker eggs in the 3rd full week of January (about 28 days after the winter solstice), and some worker brood will begin to appear at the center of the cluster at that time. 

Food Consumption & Storage 

A strong hive may consume 15-20 lbs of honey in January if the weather is consistently cold or wet. Stored pollen will be in demand in the hive after brood rearing commences in the third full week. On a warm day, a few bees may fly out and collect small amounts of pollen from witch hazel and winter aconite. Bees may visit a gardenia in bloom in a garden. These pollen sources are miniscule compared to the bounty waiting later in the year. 

Events to Watch For in the Hive 

If there is heavy snow, make certain the entrance to the hive is cleared to allow for proper ventilation. Check the weight of the hive by placing one hand under the back of the bottom board and lifting it up. If it feels as if most of the honey is gone, you may need to start feeding the hive this month. Once you start feeding, you must continue feeding until the bees are gathering pollen and nectar on their own. Unless you are confident that a hive is starving, do not open a hive at less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit (without wind chill.) 

Tasks to Be Performed 

This is a great time to catch up on reading those bee books you received as holiday gifts, or that you requested on inter-library loan. Don’t forget to attend your next club meeting and start ordering, assembling, and repairing the equipment you might need for this coming season. If you have not done so, go ahead and order that package of bees or a nucleus hive, if needed, from a reputable supplier.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)

Wintersweet, Witch Hazel, Conifers, Holly in Fruit

[From: maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/]

Final Word

If you are a member of RPBBA, don’t forget to pay your dues. The amount is miniscule compared to the vast array of knowledge from mentors, study groups and meetings. If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. If you are a honeybee enthusiast looking to get started, check out the Beginner Beekeeping course. It’s worth its’ weight in gold. 

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.  I am planning do feature a member each month starting in Feb. Stay tuned.

I hope to see you at the meeting on Jan 9th at 6pm. Bring your bee stories!

Hollee Freeman
Communications

Check us out at rockwoodbeekeepers.com!
Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

*****************************************************************************
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Hey RPPBA members,
Please take notice that our annual holiday party venue is changing. It will now be at the Nature Center.

The party will still be Monday, Dec 12th at 7pm. The only difference is the venue. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in public parks. We hope that this change does not affect anyone’s decision to attend. We know everyone enjoys when we meet at Molly’s; the space is unexpectedly unavailable.

RSVP link for those that may need it: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044babae2aa5fa7-2022

Thank you!

Michelle Clark
Communications

Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!

Good evening beekeepers!

It may be a slow month in the apiary but there is much to share this month. Rockwood Beekeepers, there is much to look forward to. We’ve got a party, study group, speakers for January and February lined up, Beginner Beekeeper classes beginning next month, several signups, a citizen science opportunity, and multiple conferences on the horizon for those interested. I predict a VERY full Spring. Keep your eyes peeled for quite a bit of information and opportunities to bee involved in this months newsletter.

RPBBA Calendar of Events
📅 Monday, Dec 12th – RPBBA Annual Holiday Party @ 7pm
📅 Monday, Dec 19th – Study Group @ 7pm

December Meeting – A Holiday Potluck
In the place of our December meeting we will be having a holiday potluck.

7pm on Monday, December 12th
@Molly’s Bicycle Shop
4515 W Hundred Rd, Chester, VA 23831

The brewery will be closed except for our group. The association will provide fried chicken, tableware, water, & soft drinks. Beer will NOT be available for purchase; this event is BYOB. We plan to have a white elephant gift exchange. To participate please bring a wrapped gift (under $20). Attendees are asked to RSVP and let us know what you plan to bring. To RSVP, go to SignUpGenius. Please leave the dish you intend to bring in a comment. The more the merrier. I hope to see you there! Add to Google Calendar

2023 Beginner Beekeeping Course

The Rockwood Park Backyard Beekeepers Association (RPBBA) is holding their annual Beginning Beekeeping Course over 4 Saturdays from end of January to beginning of March.

Attendees will receive instruction on the
🐝History, Hive organization & location,
🐝Woodenware and equipment,
🐝Dynamics of the Colony,
🐝Diseases, Pests and Predators,
🐝Getting Started,
🐝The Beekeeping Year,
🐝Floral Sources, and
🐝Bee Field Day (hands-on apiary day)

Class dates will be Jan 28, Feb 11, Feb 25, & Mar 11 alternating Saturday’s with the Huguenot Beekeepers Association (HBA). Participants who are unable to make a class at RPBBA, may attend and receive the same instruction at HBA. The course is $100 through Jan 21st and $115 thereafter. We are limited to 40 registrations; enrollment includes a 1-year membership to RPBBA. For more information, including a signup form, please see our website rockwoodbeekeepers.com/beginner-beekeeping.

Club News – 2023 Officers Announcement
The Board of Directors’ met on November 28th over Zoom. 2023 Officers were discussed and selected. The following slate of Officers will be installed January 1st.

Stan Houk, President
Sherry Kelley, Vice President
Theo Hartmann, Treasurer
Don Osborne, Secretary
Hollee Freeman, Communications
John Davis, Membership
Jody Conway, Registered Agent

The Membership role is new. This position was created with the intention of having a club member as a go-to for prospective RPBBA members and new members as well as a familiar face for our more experienced beekeepers to keep in touch. We know there are a lot of questions when you’re new to the club and/or new to beekeeping. Seasoned beekeepers know the learning never ends. Filling in a Membership role will also be a help for our Communications director who is often the first point of contact for many.

The Board of Directors is still on the hunt for a Honey Bee Festival Chair. If you have an interest, or questions, reach out and let us know. The club could use a helping hand to lead the charge. I realize the role is intimidating. Help is available; we promise, we will not let you fail.

Will you be selling nucs, packages or queens this year?

Ever so often, the question pops up- how do I get started? Where can I get my bees? We’d like to update the 2022 Resources list for sharing with those who inquire (and our incoming Beginner Beekeeping class).

If you plan to have bees for sale next year, tell us your plans.

Click here to have your information added to our 2023 Resources*.

*This is simply a list of local suppliers; RPBBA does not endorse or give preference. Buyers are encouraged to do their own research before making their decision to purchase from any supplier.

ISO RPBBA Members Willing to Bee a Mentor
A Mentor’s purpose is to help other members with things like installing packages/nucs, in-hive help, capturing swarms or general questions.

With the 2023 Beginner Beekeeping course kicking off in January,well soon have new-bee’s looking for assistance. If you are a RPBBA member and willing to bee a Mentor, please sign up here. You must be willing to have your contact information shared with other RPBBA members.

The goal is to create a current list of willing mentors, with their general location, to share with those ISO a Mentor near them.

Bee Vocabulary – “waggle dance”
A series of figure-eight movements performed by a bee to indicate the direction and abundance of a distant food source. In this dance, the bee walks in a circle, turns around, then walks the same circle in the opposite direction. She repeats this many times. Sometimes, the bee includes a little waggle as she’s turning around.

Beekeepers in the News
Could Carbon Dioxide Be a New Tool Against Varroa Mites?
If you missed the story, you can read it at:
https://entomologytoday.org/2022/08/02/carbon-dioxide-varroa-mite-management-honey-bees/

Citizen Science: Predicting Varroa Infestation in Virginia
Dr. Zac Lamas and Dr. James Wilson are working together and with Virginia beekeepers in 2023 to see if a new sampling methodology can predict mite infestations months before they actually occur. The project is simple, easily adoptable, and can be done by beekeepers of all skill levels. They need hobbyist beekeepers across Virginia to join in.

More information and a signup form below👇👇👇

Varroa is the leading cause of death of honey bee colonies. Despite years of research there is much we still don’t know about mites. New findings from the University of Maryland and USDA-ARS suggest an alternative sampling method may allow beekeepers to detect Varroa earlier than current sampling methods, nor does the new method require beekeepers to sacrifice handfuls of worker bees in the process. But we need your help!

Here is your chance to be a scientist! Beekeepers across Virginia are invited to join a citizen science project in 2023. Your participation will provide valuable data. We want to know if our new method works in Virginia, and if it in fact, can predict fall mite infestations months beforehand.

You do not need to provide much to participate. All you need is to sample a few of your own colonies each month, and then submit the results on a monthly questionnaire. Our team at Virginia Tech will provide instruction material, monthly zoom sessions, and Q&A support via e-mail.

Signup to bee involved: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScW3ZUau6kO6G1EQfYhrbBBWtSsTmGKfSx6z5tgIq5y_1Y5Pw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&fbclid=IwAR3hDc800XbRhR6Ud40jlieGrgJ_dTcDhV4sAN-W-efAwNlMEgP72BT5I5w 🐝🐝🐝

Heart of Virginia Beekeepers 1st Annual Conference

The Heart of Virginia Beekeepers are hosting their FIRST annual beekeeping conference for the central region! The conference will feature two seminars from keynote speaker, Dr. David Tarpy, professor and extension specialist of honey bee biology and beekeeping at NC State University. His seminars will delve into diagnosing queen problems and coming out of winter. There will also be a selection of breakout sessions from which to choose, including integrated pest management, varroa treatments, reading the frame, commercial beekeeping, Slovenian style beekeeping, a forum on swarm prevention, and the indispensable nuc.

Sat, January 14th, 8:30am – 4:00pm
@Longwood University 201 High Street Farmville, VA 23909

For more information, including registration, visit
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/heart-of-virginia-beekeepers-1st-annual-conference-registration-440627598007

There are early admission tickets available though Dec 15th.

Virginia State Beekeepers Association (VSBA)
Save the Date: Spring Meeting
June 10th 8:30am – 5pm &
June 11th 8:30am – 2pm
@Sweet Briar College 134 Chapel Dr Sweet Briar, VA24595

This Month in the Hive (December)
The bees are in a tight cluster now. Egg laying has halted. There will be flights on sunny days with temperatures over 50 degrees. Weeks after the winter solstice, the queen’s egg laying will recommence, but not this month.

The hive may consume 10-12 pounds of honey during this month, depending on the weather. Mild weather may actually cause more honey consumption due to increased movement.

You should stay out of the hive this month. Make sure the entrance and ventilation holes are not blocked. Make sure the mouse guard is not chewed through. Plug any large holes in the brood boxes to prevent drafts.

Read a good book on beekeeping; study the latest research reports on bee health. Review what worked well and what you might want to change next year. Request catalogs.

[From https://buzzwordhoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Northern-Virginia-Honeybee-Annual-Cycle.pdf]

What’s in Bloom (according to Maymont)
Holly in fruit, Wintersweet, Winter Tree Silhouettes

[From: maymont.org/explore/gardens/whats-in-bloom/]

Final Word
If you are not a member of RPBBA, we encourage you to join and bee active. You can join on our website. If you are a honeybee enthusiast looking to get started, check out the Beginner Beekeeping course. This is where I got my start. 😀

We are always looking for ways to improve communications in the club. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know.

I hope to see you at the holiday party on Monday, December 12th at 7pm.

Michelle Clark
Communications

Like us on Facebook!
Join our Facebook RPBBA Practical Beekeeping Group!
Keep up with what RPBBA is doing, see Calendar of Events!