Greetings Bee Buddies!
I hope you are not too busy to read this. If your bees are as busy as mine, you’ve really got your hands full. Bees are swarming, splits are thirsty, and virgin queens are out looking for drone action! A walk in the conservation area a week ago yielded a nice swarm in my trap but no sign yet of the Palmettos spiking blooms. I’m wondering if the cool spring has delayed them some. Nonetheless, the girls are bringing in pollen and at least a little nectar.
February Meeting
Our February meeting saw a number of new members joining us. Several were brought by established members, a serious compliment to our club!
The February 5:30 Practical Hour was all about swarms, with Trevor Piper, Randall Fort, and yours truly sharing information about the honeybee reproduction function of the swarm as well as swarm control and management via splits and swarm trapping.
The highlight of our February meeting was the presentation of our Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim Blodgett, longtime member and former President of our club. All in attendance recognized and applauded Tim’s many years of dedication as a beekeeping mentor, leader and ambassador for honeybees and our club.
The scholarship program to reimburse tuition for the Apprentice level of the UF Master Beekeeping Program was presented. Beginning now, the first eight dues paying members of BKVC to complete the requirements of the Apprentice level of the UF Master Beekeeping program will have the tuition (currently $250) reimbursed.
In lieu of a speaker, February saw us break up into groups to brainstorm about club programs for the year. Committee chairs worked with members to plan for the coming year and will report on their results next meeting.
Day in the Bee Yard (DITBY)
A big Shout Out to Lauren and Chris Keene who welcomed us to their home and apiary for a terrific day of learning and camaraderie. Inspections, Splits, and Varoa Management were among the broad array of learning experiences. And, as usual, Patti Fort and her team coordinated a delicious pot luck!
March 26thMeeting
The 5:30 Practical hour will be practical indeed. We will be demonstrating and practicing lighting smokers as well as exhibiting beekeeping tools, both common and exotic! Please bring smokers if you have them, as well as any special fuel you use. And please bring any tools that have special utility for you. I will be bringing my handy dandy frame grabber and wax digger tool.
Our Speaker for the March 26th Meeting is Assistant Professor Cameron Jack of the UF Honeybee Lab. Dr. Jack’s extensive research and teaching endeavors are focused on learning and sharing practical methods to help beekeepers! If a problem or practice helps or hurts bees and beekeeping, he is on it! He will talk to us about Seasonal Treatments for Varoa, a subject dear to all of our hearts and crucial for our honeybees!
Once again, be sure to bring some cash to the meeting. BKVC Tee shirts are available for sale and order. Please see Vice President Miranda Tressler to buy or order yours. Also available are those very stylish Honeybee name tag lanyards which help us get to know each other. See Patti Fort for those.
And if you haven’t done so already, please bring cash, a check, or the ability to Zelle for dues. Dues remain $30.00 per year, an enormous bargain! See Treasurer Seth Henderson to pay.
Committee work
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Charles Bennett as Chair of our Website Committee. Charles has already hit the ground running. He has made awesome additions to our website and is working on more. He has asked for content from members in the form of photos, honeybee information, etc. Please get in touch with Charles to help!
I’m looking forward to seeing you Wednesday the 26th.
Jeordie
