Tuesday’s Tips — Fruit Set Problems in Squash

Or we might have titled this post "Why Bees Are So Important." In January the press reported that scientists had noticed a significant decline in bumblebee populations in the U.S. — first it was the honeybees that were disappearing and now it's bumblebees too. Scientists are not sure why just yet, but one thing they...

Tuesday’s Tips — Disappearing Bumble Bees

We've written a lot about Colony Collapse Disorder and the nearly overwhelming problems that affect honey bees, but things are at least as dire for our native bees, most notably the lovely bumble bee. Bumbles are the stuff of our childhood memories. Who, when remembering walks through wildflower fields, doesn't see in their mind's eye...

Sunday Zen

Got behind on my dates. National Honey Bee Awareness Day was yesterday , but just because I missed that boat it doesn't mean we shouldn't be celebrating our honey bees every other day of the year. So let's start today by being grateful for all that these  insects do for us — pollinating more than...

Sunday Zen

Colorado California

Wordless Wednesday

Colorado California

Sunday Zen

Block Island California

Tuesday’s Tips — Caring for Bees

This week marks the fourth annual National Pollinator Week. Bees are probably the first thing that come to mind when we think about pollinators, but there are many others that deserve our gratitude and care — hummingbirds, bats, butterflies, and beetles to name a few. I love honeybees best so that's what I'm going to...

Suped Up TBH

Mary Beth: This will be my last bee update from Block Island for a while because Ray and I are on the road. Durango, here we come!. Monday, May 3: The apple trees are blooming on the Island. The buds started opening up around April 27th, which is really early. As I mentioned in an...

Spring Twice Over and Busy as a Bee

Mary Beth: The last few weeks have been a bit crazy. Ray and I have been getting ready to leave Block Island. It's an exciting, stressful, sad time and my emotions are all over the place. I hate packing. Deciding what to leave and what to take and battling Ray for space in our trailer...