Friday Finds: Update on Bud’s Bees
Last Spring, Bud and Hans Hirshfield teamed up with the University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab and introduced two honeybee colonies to the environs just outside of downtown Minneapolis. Hive #1 flourished throughout the summer, but Hive #2 lagged behind and towards the end of the summer the U of MN Bee Squad replenished the hive with additional bees. Winterized and set up with plenty of food we hoped for the best.
Unfortunately, Bud’s Bees were part of the 51.2% of colonies that did not survive the winter here in Minnesota. Varroa mites and insecticides are what experts feel are putting the most stress on colonies.
Hirshfield’s bee lovers are so thankful Bud and Hans want to continue working with the University of Minnesota’s Bee Squad for another year. Approximately 30,000 bees are back on the roof and foraging for desirable food where they can find it. Bud’s Bees are lucky to be close to the Bryn Mawr neighborhood with their multitude of flower and vegetable gardens.
One thing that you can do to help the bees is to buy plants that are neonicotinoid free. Check with your local garden center (not a big box store) and see what they carry in neonicotinoid free plants. To read more about Bachman’s going neonicotinoid free last year, click on this link.
The statement below is from the U’s Bee Lab Facebook page:
“Clean food for bees is very important. We also see many different types of pesticides in pollen collected for bees. So it is important to protect our pollinators by making sure they have great nutrition sources as well as using all pesticides carefully.”
Since Frank and Elizabeth Hirshfield opened their first store in 1894, it has been our mission to do the best job possible meeting customer needs and solving customer problems. Hirshfield’s. People and products you can trust.