Bees

In the spring of 2009, the Kentuckiana Beekeepers Association served as mentors and donated three beehives which produced close to 70 pounds of honey and won the 2009 KY State Fair blue ribbon for light amber honey.

Over the winter of 2010, one queen bee and hive was lost. Two new queen bees and 10 lbs. of honey was purchased during the spring of 2011.

Spring 2011 Elwood sets up a new bee hive

Elwood Stroder, our beekeeper, shows Nativity Academy students how to maintain the beehives.

Honey bees are non-aggressive bees that help the garden. Honey bees are nature's pollinators. They help increase the production of food crops and many different flowers in the flower garden. Honey bees are also a natural predator of many garden pests, such as lady bugs and soldier bugs.

Plant a wide variety of flowers to attract honey bees. They prefer single petal blossoms such as black -eyed Susan's and poppies. Single petal varieties produce more pollen and nectar than double petal blossoms. Honeybees forage around in the flowers and collect pollen on their legs. The bees fly to another flower and the pollen rubs off and pollinates the new flower. Pollination results in seed creation and new plants to attract more bees.

Choose blue, purple or yellow flowers, such as zinnias and asters, to plant in your garden. Bees prefer these flowers because the colors that the bees can see are green, blue, purple, yellow and black.

Plant fall and spring blooming flowers to provide bees with nectar year round. Spring flowers include larkspur and zinnias. Fall blooming flowers include daisies, sunflowers and pansies.

Wildflowers and native flowers provide honeybees with the most natural pollen and nectar that is available.

Avoid the use of pesticides. Pesticides can kill honey bees.

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