Their life cycle is so interesting.

The part about them dying though makes me sad

I'm reading the book "The Secret Life Bees" and while it is fiction, one of the characters in the story is a beekeeper and the book gives lots of information about beekeeping and at the beginning of each chapter, it gives factual information on bees/beekeeping. It's SO interesting.

Great book Vicki. : )

Margaret, even though we had bees for some years, I did not understand the dynamics of the hive during winter. Very interesting. Bet my DH knew that, but I didn't. He did most of the bee work.

I agree ... bees are most interesting. Thanks, Margaret.

I'm glad you are enjoying this article.

Vicki I'll have to get that book and read it myself; I might learn something I don't know yet.
The bees dying makes me sad too but when you stop to think about it their short life span is probably equal to our longer one considering their size.

Lynn my husband currently does all the beekeeping stuff and we recently had a discussion on whether the bees use the bathroom inside the hive or not. Most of the information I've found on that says they won't but he says in the winter time when they can't get out they do and clean their hive out when it warms up as soon as they can. We are finding that beekeeping is really a learn as you go kind of project because while something may hold true in some cases it doesn't always hold true in others. Another example of this is several sources say honeysuckle is not a good honey bee plant being more suited to bumblebees and that the honey bees can only reach the nectar if bumblebees chew a hole in the blossom first. Yet here we've seen honeybees working those blossoms without any help from the bumblebees.

They love our honey suckle and don't seem to have any problem with doing it on their own. : )
And they love the sempervivum and sedum blooms.

Margaret, just a reminder that The Secret Life of Bees is fiction. That said, because she quotes facts about bees at the beginning of every chapter, the books she references from are listed and a wealth of information, I'm sure. Also, one of the main characters in the book is a beekeeper and it's pretty much over my head all the stuff they do to maintain the health of the bees. Plus they make the beeswax candles, etc.

Thanks Vicki I am aware of the fiction part but you know those writers have to research their topic before they can write a good story and sometimes you learn from fiction as well.

I was hoping it included the references so I could check them out so I'm still grateful to you for telling us about the book.

Another good article. So much information to learn.
Thanks for teaching us...

You are welcome Charleen. Give Charley a nuzzle from me.

Poor little bees, they have it rough during the winter! Very interesting, though, thanks, Margaret!

Great article. Had no idea bees stuck around during winter (backyard variety). Thank you for the lesson

You are welcome. Not all bees go through winter like honey bees do. Bumblebees for instance only leave the queen to survive through winter.

I believe we had honey bees in the area this past summer...the little fellows had a path of flight coming and going from a neighbors yard to our bird bath. I plan to be more attentive this next summer to see if they are still around and try to get a better idea of where their hive might be...not that I'm gonna pester them or anything

You won't have to wait until summer Maridel just until it warms up above 50 during the daytime, they will be out hunting for food then. They will especially be looking for pollen to raise their brood on first thing. Are you going to be feeding those bees?

Never thought of "feeding them". They like some of the plants I have. Besides planting more of what they like....which probably won't happen...is there something else I can do?

A sugar syrup ratio of 1:1 in early spring will help them until they get enough nectar. Just mix it like you would for hummingbirds and set it out where they can get it. Give them something to land on if you put it in an open container. Charleen fixed a nice one last year for the bees in her area after the tornadoes went through there. You'll know when they have enough nectar, they'll quit visiting the sugar syrup mixture. In very hot weather they need water and plenty of it which is why they visit your bird bath. Then in late summer/early autumn they might need more sugar syrup in a ratio of 2:1 (sugar to water) to build up winter stores.

I can do that! I have starred this so I will be able to find it next Spring. Thanks!

A good article! I learned something! Thanks!

Thank you Caroline. I'm glad you enjoyed the article and learned something from it.

@Mindy03
Found this through your link over on Cubits, thanks for the great article.
We have kept bees for 2 years and are still learning. Before building our hive and buying the bee package we studied the videos and book: Honey Bees and Beekeeping: A Year in the Life of an Apiary by Dr Keith S Delaplane of UGA.

I always suggest that non-beekeepers can put out water in a shallow container with a few pebbles so the bees can drink without drowning, but I never thought to suggest that they feed the bees - what a great idea. It is something everyone can do to help the bees.