You Win Some, You Swarm Some
A Spring Bee Update
This week, Homestead’s resident beekeeper Rosalind Bassett shares a spring hive update!
Despite our best intentions, one of our hives at Homestead managed to swarm. The equipment we ordered to help expand the hive was delayed, and as a result, they outgrew the hive again!
Swarming is something that happens to hives when the hive is too full of bees and they have outgrown their space. The queen leaves behind several new queen cells, then the original queen leaves with around half of the population of bees to live in a different location that they have scouted out prior to leaving. The first queen that exits the left behind cells will go and destroy the remaining queen cells that have not opened and will become the new queen of the hive. If two queens emerge at the same time they will fight to the death and the surviving queen is the ruler. It is a real life “Game Of Thrones” in nature.
This is a smaller eight-frame hive, and the queen laid in every space possible. They outgrew their space and we had no additional equipment to expand the hive. While we are disappointed that they fled the scene, they left behind many bees and frames packed with brood (baby bees) that were getting ready to emerge. The hive will be back to full capacity in no time.
Queenless hives are renowned for being aggressive and unstable. While the new queen is waiting to hatch and mate, the hive is without the queen’s pheromone to dictate the hive’s behavior and temperament. I knew going into the inspection that the hive could be unstable. You can watch the video below to see the bees fly at me with more aggression than usual. Please also note how many bees are still in this hive!
I quickly closed them up and added two more boxes to the hive. Here is a photo of the hive before the inspection.
And here is the expanded version with the two extra boxes added. These bees are so productive I am contemplating adding another honey super.
The honey super, located at the top of the hive, is nearly ready for harvest. They are still finalizing capping the honey with wax, which is the indication that it is prepared for harvest. This hive had brand-new frames that were not yet covered in wax. This hive is a superstar hive that built out all the wax cells and has filled them with nectar, fanned the nectar to dehydrate it and turn it into honey, and finally capped it with wax.
Here is a photo of some of the filled honey frames with wax cappings.
Where does this wax come from? Bees are amazing insects and make their wax through cells on their abdomens. They chew this wax with their mandibles and form it into the cells that hold pollen, brood, honey, and water.
Take a look at all the different types of pollen these bees have also put in this frame, which acts as a pantry in the hive. Bees use the pollen to feed the young bees, and it is a protein source for the hive. Bees that have an opportunity to forage on a wide variety of forage tend to have healthy hives.
The last work I did in the other hive during the inspection was to treat the larger hive for mites. (In a future post, I will go more into the issues we face with bees and mites, as there is a lot to talk about with this one topic. )
When I was a new beekeeper, I resisted treating my hives. As a result, they died every single fall without fail. I was devastated, and the more time I spent learning in my bee club and from my mentor, I began to understand that not treating for mites would not lead to hive longevity.
Here are two mite strips laid on top of the brood chamber (where the baby bees are). These help kill the mites in the hive that can lead to the destruction of the hive.
When I opened the hives, some of the light colored, spring floral honey spilled out. Here are the bees happily cleaning it up for me.
Classes and Events
Spring is our busiest time of year, so its no surprise that we have cocktails on our minds. Rose and Stefani will be teaching the first of our botanical cocktails classes on Sunday, June 8th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. It is always a fun evening and this class we will be highlighting 2025’s Herb of the Year, chamomile! We will enjoy botanical cocktails, go on an herb walk and make our own chamomile bitters to bring home (see below for more information). And if you are looking for a gift for your Mom or another special person in your life for the upcoming Mother’s Day, we are offering a discount for our Tea Garden class when you purchase two tickets. Learn more here.
2025 Design Intensives with Homestead Design Collective, Morningsun Herb Farm & Soul Food Farm
May 21, 2025 Tea Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at a private garden in Lafayette, CA 10am - 12:30pm
Step into the soothing world of tea with our Tea Garden Design class! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own tranquil tea garden, perfect for both cultivation and relaxation. We’ll explore everything from the art of garden design to selecting the best tea plants, and even enjoy a delightful tea tasting to complement the experience.
What you’ll learn:
Garden Design: Learn how to design a serene tea garden that invites relaxation and enhances the tea-drinking experience. We’ll cover layout, pathways, and creating a peaceful ambiance.
Tea Plants & Selection: Explore the diverse range of tea plants, including Camellia sinensis and various herbal varieties, and learn how to choose the ideal ones for your specific climate and garden.
Arranging for Beauty & Function: Learn how to arrange plants to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional garden. We’ll discuss companion planting, layering, and integrating seating areas for enjoying your tea.
Tea Tasting: Experience the flavors of freshly brewed tea made from your very own garden plants. We’ll guide you through a tasting session, so you can savor the full potential of your garden’s harvest.
June 8, 2025 Botanical Cocktails: Morningsun Herb Farm, Vacaville, CA 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Join us for a fun and refreshing Botanical Cocktail Class, where we’ll teach you how to craft delicious summer cocktails using fresh flowers, herbs, and aromatics straight from the garden. This hands-on workshop will show you how to elevate your cocktail game with vibrant, seasonal ingredients that bring your drinks to life.
What you’ll learn:
Choosing Garden Ingredients: Discover how to select and harvest flowers, herbs, and aromatics from your garden, such as lavender, mint, basil, and edible blooms, to create unique and flavorful cocktails.
Mixing & Crafting Cocktails: Learn the techniques of mixing and crafting cocktails that highlight the fresh, aromatic flavors of your garden ingredients. We’ll guide you through several recipes, from refreshing mojitos to fragrant herbal spritzers.
Garnishing & Presentation: Explore the art of garnishing with garden-grown flowers and herbs to create visually stunning drinks. We’ll show you how to use simple touches to elevate your cocktail presentation.
Pairing & Flavor Balancing: Understand how to balance flavors and pair ingredients for a perfectly harmonious cocktail. You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to mix your favorite summer spirits with nature’s finest.
Whether you’re an aspiring mixologist or just love a good summer drink, this class will provide you with the skills and inspiration to bring the essence of your garden into every glass. Join us for an evening of creativity, great company, and the best of botanical cocktails!
This class will be held at Morningsun Herb Garden from 5:30PM - 7:30PM in Vacaville, California. Participants must be 21 years and older.
Homegrown Harvest: A Guide to Growing Your Own Food
August 7: The Fall/Winter Garden — Lafayette, CA Learn how to plant garlic, cover crops, and cool-season vegetables for your fall and spring edible garden.
Herbal Magic: Cannabis & Herbal Gardening
May 22: Summer Herbs & Cannabis — Companion Planting and Care, Lafayette, CA. Dive into the world of synergistic gardening with our specialized class, "Summer Herbs & Cannabis: Companion Planting and Care." This class is designed for gardeners looking to optimize their green spaces through the art of companion planting, focusing on the harmonious cultivation of annual and perennial herbs, including cannabis. You’ll be equipped with the skills to create a thriving garden that leverages the natural benefits of plant relationships.
September 18: Harvesting Excellence - Final Care for Herbs and Cannabis, Lafayette, CA. This hands-on course is designed for gardeners who want to master the final stages of the growing cycle and ensure that their herbs and cannabis are harvested and processed with precision and care.
November 13 Kitchen Alchemy with Herbs and Cannabis — Lafayette, CA. Join Penny and Stefani in the kitchen as we create bespoke dishes using the garden's bounty. This is what the summer herb garden was heading for all season! We become kitchen alchemists as we transform our harvested herbs into tisane, tincture, infused oil, salve, and delicious beverages and edibles. Penny will offer instruction on the unique properties of cannabis for health and wellness as we include it in the herbal ingredients in our creations. Come prepared to learn by doing as we make several favorite herbal recipes for mind, body, and soul.
Bees!! Love them.
How fascinating. Clearly, I know nothing about bees. Now I understand why they swarm and I've just educated my husband too. Thank you for sharing.