Bees and the Environment
California’s Record Rainfall Provides Reclaimed Water Sources for Bees
California has experienced a bonanza of rain, which provides relief from the hovering drought conditions typical to the state. What is the best use of all this water, and how can it be reclaimed and used to bring value to the state’s agriculture and ecosystems? California leads the way when it comes to water conservation…
Read MoreThe Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth About Honeybees and Native Bees
Have honeybees been skating under the radar as people assume they are part of native North American wildlife? Doubters would say that installing honeybee hives to save bees is like raising chickens to protect birds. Some claim that the two efforts, although at first glance, may seem to be closely connected, are anything but. What…
Read MoreSpring is Here! Preparing Plants, Flowers, and Gardens to Help Pollinators
March 20th is coming up in less than three weeks. It is also the first day of spring, and residents and landscapers all over Southern California are preparing for an excellent and fruitful season. Orange County is in full swing, hosting weekly events at various locations, offering volunteers a first-hand look at Orange County’s natural…
Read MoreHoneybees Get the Royal Treatment in Orange County
Honeybees Get The Royal Treatment in Orange County One of the incredible things about Orange County, California, is the expansive beauty that spreads from the coast to the hills. Orange County has a solid beekeeping base, and these communities pride themselves on a unique awareness of honeybee happenings and the history of bees in the…
Read MoreDo Fertilizers Interfere with Bees’ Ability to Pollinate?
If you didn’t already know, flowers are electric! Flowers can draw pollinators in by emitting a negative charge. Since insects carry positive charges, the opposing electric fields are naturally drawn together. This electric connection helps bees and other insects find flowers, along with visual and scent cues. Since bees create an electrical charge when they…
Read MoreBeekeepers Trying Everything to Save Starving Bees
Busy bees happily pollinate many crops nationwide. California’s almonds and Maine’s blueberries are some of the delicious and nutritious crops Americans enjoy. The almond crop is a critical source that food growers and bees depend on for survival. Beekeepers have a unique pulse on our nation’s agricultural activity, and the climate crisis has many concerned…
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