Boston Flora

Tag: Beekeeping

  • Saturday, September 14, 9:30 am – 11:30 am – Buzzing into Autumn with Bees!

    Buzz into autumn on September 14 at 9:30 am with New England Botanic Garden as we guide you in planning a bee-utiful garden full of the best pollinator plants. Peek inside our resident honeybee hive and sweeten your experience with a honey tasting featuring local varieties and honey straight from the source. It is beekeeping with no “stings’ attached.

    Buzz into autumn with New England Botanic Garden as we guide you to planning a bee-utiful garden, a visit to our hives, and a honey tasting.

    Instructor Hunter Blanchard is a horticulturist at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston, MA. He has been with the organization since 2018, serving in roles that allow him to share his passion for making plants accessible to people and for nurturing growing things. Today, Hunter leads a three-person team responsible for 10 acres of naturalistic garden spaces that foster plant biodiversity and support pollinator populations through a focus on North American native plant species. He enjoys interpreting these garden spaces for visitors through tours and talks, hoping that these learning opportunities inspire people to engage more with plants at home or in other areas of their lives. A community builder, Hunter serves on the board of directors for F.E.R.N., a nonprofit that supports conservation by promoting synergy between individuals, communities, and organizations, and on the Conference Planning and Education Committees for the Ecological Landscape Alliance. Hunter holds an A.S. in sustainable horticulture from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and a B.S. in plant soil science from Umass Amherst.

    Alyson Prokop serves as the Manager of Adult Education at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylton, MA. She joined NEBG in May 2024 after a decade at the Royal Botanical Gardens Canada, where she worked as a botanical horticulturist overseeing the Teaching and Community Food Gardens, in addition to her roles as Public Programs Coordinator and Horticultural Societies Liaison. She is passionate about leading and expanding garden programs, with a particular interest in initiatives that connect people with plants. Alyson is especially interested in food security and strives to make programming accessible to diverse audiences.

    Alyson’s background as an educator, field botanist, horticulturist, and market gardener informs her dedication to promoting biodiversity and sustainable practices. She prioritizes integrating community engagement and botanical stewardship in program development. Guided by her values of continuous learning, collaborative leadership, and sustainability, Alyson aims to contribute to plant conservation and educational projects in a managerial or curatorial role within botanical gardens.

    $35 member adult, $45 nonmembers. Register at www.nebg.org

  • Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Mindful Beekeeping

    Beekeeper and founder of Bee Resonance Project Asher Silverwolff takes participants on a grounding and calming journey into the inner world of bees on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at Berkshire Botanical Garden in West Stockbridge. Participants will experience meditation, show and tell, touch and feel and lots of time for Q&A. Asher will share stories of his relationship with bees, how it helps him relax and stay focused, what the year ahead looks like, and explore together as a group how the Bee Resonance Project might support those interested in taking up the mantle of beekeeping or already keeping bees.

    Bee Resonance Project is an organization focused on connecting people to themselves and nature by tuning into bees. They manage beehives on behalf of farms, educational organizations and private clients. They also host educational experiences and training for schools, companies and community organizations. $25 for BBG members, $40 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/mindful-beekeeping

  • Saturday, April 10, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Spring/Summer Hive Management

    Join 6th-generation beekeeper Ken Warchol for an in-depth Berkshire Botanical Garden program on spring honeybee hive management. This in person lecture and demonstration on April 10 at 11 am will focus on how to open up your hives from the winter, including feeding and pest control. Ken will provide beekeepers with critical information and, most especially, timing of important management techniques to prepare hives for the spring and summer. Weather permitting, he will do a hive inspection in the BBG apiary. Bring protective equipment. Ken Warchol is a long-time beekeeper and former teacher whose lectures are enjoyed by expert and novice beekeepers alike. He has served as a Massachusetts State Bee Inspector. $15 for BBG members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/springsummer-hive-management

  • Saturday, May 9, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Beekeeping 101: An Introduction to Beekeeping Webinar

    This Berkshire Botanical Garden online program on May 9 from 9 – 1 will give first year beekeepers the tools they need to start off their new hobby on the right foot. Topics will include honey bee biology, equipment, hive installation methods, basic pest management, honey and wax harvesting, and hive management through the seasons.  Price is $25 for BBG members, $35 for nonmembers. Suggested supplementary texts: The Beekeepers Handbook by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile and The Backyard Beekeeper by Kim Flottum.

    Chris Wellens is the Director of Education at BBG and the head beekeeper of the BBG apiary. He also teaches on a wide variety of other topics involving the environment, gardening, and agriculture.  Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/beekeeping-101-introduction-backyard-beekeeping

    Image result for The Backyard Beekeeper

  • Saturday, February 16, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Raising Nucs (Nucleus Colonies): A Valuable Skill for All Beekeepers

    Most beekeepers lose some colonies every year and will need replacement colonies. Raising your own nucs allows the beekeeper to accomplish several things at the same time: swarming can be controlled, varroa mites can be partially managed, and great replacement colonies and queens can be produced with minimal investment. It also is a very enjoyable and rewarding pursuit. The Berkshire Botanical Garden will conduct a class on Saturday, February 16 from 10 – 12. BBG members $10, nonmembers $15. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-298-3926.

    Image result for nucleus colonies bees

  • Tuesday, January 22, 9:30 am – A “Bee” Program

    The Needham Garden Club will host Susan Robinson on Tuesday, January 22 at 9:30 am at the Needham Public Library, 1139 Highland Street in needham Heights. Ms. Robinson will present a “Bee” program, open to the public. $5 for non-NGC attendees.  Susan runs an organic honey business, Buzz 10 Honey, and teaches students at Norfolk County Agricultural High School. For more information visit http://www.needhamgardenclub.com/

    Image result for Buzz 10 Honey

  • Thursday, June 22, 12:00 noon – Live Bee Hive Opening

    Meet The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History’s bees up close with beekeepers George Muhlebach and crew who will open their live hives for visitors. Learn how bees have a symbiotic relationship to flowering plants and how beekeepers contribute to maintaining the biodiversity in our ecosystem. Veils provided.

    PLEASE NOTE:
    The first opening is at 12 noon, if that fills, a 2nd is at 12:45 and if needed a 3rd opening at 1:30. We only take reservations for Noon until that is full, and then open the next time slot.

    THURSDAYS:

    June 22, 29

    July 6, 13, 20, 27

    August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

    RESERVATIONS REQUIRED due to limited space.
    CCMNH Members $4/Non-Members $5: call 508 896 3867 x 111. For more information please call the Museum at 508-896-3867 ext. 133. Image from www.samlesburyhall.co.uk.

  • Tuesdays, February 7 – 28, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Beekeeping Class

    This Cape Cod Museum of Natural History four part course does not require any prior knowledge of beekeeping. It is designed to be of equal interest to the person who wants to get into beekeeping and to those who simply want to know more about the “busy bees” that provide us with the delicious treat of honey and many of our fruits and vegetables.

    The course will cover the required hardware, the biology of the honeybee, beekeeping tasks throughout the seasons, as well as the honey harvest. The Museum’s four outdoor hives will give the participant an opportunity to get hands-on experience on how to assemble the hardware, how to start a new hive (the “hiving procedure”) and how to assess the health of a developing hive. We will also discuss some of the recent results of current bee research.

    The course will be co-taught by George Muhlebach, a hobby beekeeper with over 30 years experience and has run the CCMNH bee program for the last 11 years and Nancy Hipp experienced Field Guide, Naturalist, and Bee docent volunteer.  The Museum is located at 869 Main Street in Brewster.

    The cost is $60 at registration. Volunteer to assist with 4 summer hive openings during the 2017 season and get a $25 rebate. To register please call the Museum at 508-896-3867, ext. 133.

  • Sunday, July 10, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm – Meet the Bee Keeper

    Join local bee keeper Bob Simek on Sunday, July 10 at noon to hear his story of getting into the world of bee keeping. We’ll walk into to see his hives, and have time for questions an answers afterwards. Meet in the parking lot of Rocky Woods in Medfield, Massachusetts. All ages welcome. Free. For directions visit www.thetrustees.org.

  • Saturday, March 26, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm – 41st Annual Gardeners Gathering

    For 41 years, the Gardeners Gathering has provided an annual forum for gardeners to shrug off winter together and celebrate urban gardening in Boston. The 41st Annual Gardeners’ Gathering, presented by the Trustees of Reservations and the City of Boston, will take place on Saturday, March 26, at the Egan Center and Shillman Hall at Northeastern University in Boston, from 10 – 4:30. This year, back by popular demand, the Annual Community Garden Awards will be presented by Mayor Martin J. Walsh, who will honor individuals, garden groups, and non-profit organizations with the “Hall of Fame,” “Rookie Gardener of the Year,” and “Most Valuable Gardener” awards. Award ceremony beings at 12pm.

    Free and open to all, The Gardener’s Gathering brings together over 400 gardeners to kick off Boston’s gardening season. As the city’s largest educational forum for urban gardeners, the Gardeners’ Gathering is an opportunity for people to share ideas and tips, network, and learn. The Gardeners’ Gathering offers more than two dozen skill-building workshops for both vegetable and ornamental gardeners with an emphasis on healthy practices for urban gardens. Topics range from seed starting to composting, urban beekeeping, and community and youth organizing to learning how to prepare garden-grown goodies like sauerkraut. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about Boston-area agriculture, gardening, and environmental organizations through the information gallery.

    This year, the Gardeners Gathering will start off with a keynote speaker and breakfast event at 10:00 AM in the Egan Center. Leading social entrepreneur Daniel Ross (pictured below) of Daisa Enterprises and formerly of Nuestras Raices and Wholesome Wave Charitable Foundation, will speak on “Dimensions of Change through Community Gardening.” This portion of the program is $15 for Trustees members and $25 for nonmembers, and requires online registration. The remainder of the program is free and attendees can register when they arrive.

    “The Gardeners’ Gathering offers an inspirational, educational venue for Boston residents and gardening enthusiasts to share information and expand their gardening skills while celebrating the City as a dynamic hub for community-based, urban gardening ” says Barbara Erickson, Trustees of Reservations President & CEO. “As the nation’s passion for gardening continues to grow exponentially each year, we are excited to move our mission to connect more Massachusetts residents with local food sources and programming forward with time-tested events like the Gardeners’ Gathering.”

    For a complete schedule of activities and workshop topics and more information, contact Michelle de Lima at mdelima@thetrustees.org or 617.542.7696 x2115. To register for the keynote, please visit www.thetrustees.org .