Beekeeping in Urban Areas. Where to put your bees!

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Felix Adams
5 years ago
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1 Beekeeping in Urban Areas Where to put your bees!

2 Check the laws in your area Go online Regulations such as distance from property lines Neighbors signatures

3 Considerations Neighbors Pools Fences Dogs Children Shade Water Nectar & pollen

4 Location with in the law

5 Fences make good neighbors! Out of sight out of mind Encourages bees to fly high-out of the flight path

6 Think it through! What s wrong with this picture? Cement base good Hives facing out bad Children next door

7 Provide Water Pools Provide alternate water Feeders Bird bath

8 Dog Bowls & Birdbaths Rough sides work better

9 Water Gardens Provide water Respite for beekeepers

10 Animal Damage Protect bees from horses and cows Provide easy access

11 Ponds Provide water Low areas can cause early morning fog & cool areas Provide opportunities for birdwatching

12 Some Dogs Learn Quickly Some learn to make a wide path Some never learn Some eat every bee that flies by

13 Children Some learn to make a wide berth Some never learn Isolate the bees High fence or box Place out of the walkway

14 Ideally Morning sun, afternoon shade Windbreak on north side Face hives east or south

15 Sometimes you have to rent a space City & Sub Division Ordinances can cause problems Storage Issues

16 More storage issues City & Sub Division Ordinances

17 Availability of Nectar & Pollen Drive around and look at the plants that are out there

18 Romantic Locations Go through a gate Get a key from farmer High on a hill Wildflowers Deer Lovely pond Look at pros & cons

19 Common Sense Locations Easy access, all year Minimal amount of gates-key available all the time Solid road in all weather, even rainy years Honey & pollen plants available Water near by Windbreak Southern exposure

20 There is no subject of more importance to the beekeeper, nor is there one that gives him more pleasure, than the study of the honey producing flowers Doolittle

21 Red Maple Early February Nectar Pollen, tan

22 Pussy Willow February Early March Nectar & Pollen Host plant for Viceroy & Red-Spotted Purple Butterflies

23 Dandelion March to November Nectar & Pollen Pollen color produces very yellow wax on new foundation

24 Henbit End of March & Early April Nectar Pollen-red to purple

25 Redbud and Flowering Crab End of March Early April Nectar Spring build up multiple trees in bloom

26 Domestic Fruit Trees - Apple April 2-5 hives needed per acre of trees Nectar stimulates brood rearing Pollen

27 Brambles Brambles include blackberries & raspberries May Blackberry Winter Nectar

28 Vegetable Gardens Cucurbits Cucumbers pollen Insects transfer pollen from male to female flowers Squash, Pumpkins, Melons - pollen & nectar

29 Herbs Aren t honey plants but provide minor nectar Mints, sages, oregano, thyme, lavender, borage,

30 Black Locust May Nectar, light & mild tasting Flowers very fragrant Short bloom period, 10 days Poor weather Usually rains Hails Heavy winds

31 Alfalfa & Scurfy Pea Several cuttings, hay Seed Production Nectar & Pollen Quickly granulates Florets have a tripping mechanism

32 Earliest Clovers Many varieties of clover Alsike & White Dutch Clover Long bloom periods Late April-August Nectar, very light Pollen, brown

33 Yellow Sweet Clover Mid-May through June Nectar & Pollen

34 White Sweet Clover Mid-May until Mid- July Nectar & Pollen

35 Red Clover Myth Very deep flower Can be a valuable honey plant in a very dry year Or third or fourth cutting Pollen

36 Smartweed (Heartsease) August until frost Nectar

37 Annual Sunflower August & September Amber Honey Pollen

38 Goldenrod August - October Nectar & Pollen Nectar source for butterflies Granulates with a coarse grain Excellent winter feed for bees

39 New England Aster September to frost Nectar Granulates quickly Very strong smell in hives

There are approximately 25,000 species of Bee in the World There are almost 4000 species of Bee in North America There are approximately 1000

There are approximately 25,000 species of Bee in the World There are almost 4000 species of Bee in North America There are approximately 1000 different species of Bee in Texas There are only 7-9 species