High Rise Honey: Bringing Honey Bee Awareness to the World

Urban beekeepingUrban Bee Hive is gaining momentum and for good reason. Bee populations around the world are in decline, but urban environments are proving to be unlikely sanctuaries. Rooftop hives and backyard colonies help support pollinator health while enhancing local biodiversity.

Urban bees pollinate community gardens, parks, and even residential yards, playing a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. In return, they benefit from diverse flowering plants often found in city landscaping. Unlike rural areas, where mono-culture farming can limit food sources, urban areas provide bees with a broader diet and a safer haven from pesticides.

Supporting urban beekeeping means more than just honey—it means actively contributing to the health of our food system and natural environment. Every hive matters.

Plant pollinator-friendly flowers, avoid chemical pesticides, or support local beekeepers.

A UC Riverside computer science team has developed a sensor-based technology that could revolutionize commercial beekeeping by reducing colony losses and lowering labor costs.
https://shorturl.at/RISNM

courtesy of University of California – Riverside
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Urban bees play a crucial role in maintaining healthy city ecosystems. As natural pollinators, they help plants, flowers, and crops thrive, contributing to greener spaces and increased biodiversity. Without bees, many fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants would struggle to grow.

Cities may seem like unlikely homes for bees, but urban environments often provide a diverse range of plants and fewer pesticides than agricultural areas. Rooftop gardens, community plots, and backyard flowers offer vital food sources, helping sustain local bee populations.

Supporting urban bees benefits both nature and people. By planting bee-friendly flowers, reducing pesticide use, and creating safe nesting spaces, we can help these essential pollinators continue their work. In turn, they keep our cities vibrant, productive, and full of life.

Sleeping BeeEver wondered why bees nap in flowers? It’s not just adorable; it’s crucial for their daily hustle.

Bees, the tireless pollinators, have a fascinating trick to recharge – power naps in flowers. As they collect nectar, the rhythmic dance triggers the release of a liquid droplet, providing a quick energy boost.

These flower-powered siestas let bees rest and revitalize in a cozy, safe space among the petals. The warmth of the sun and the flower’s gentle sway create an ideal setting for these essential naps, both physically and mentally refreshing.

The sight of bees dozing in flowers isn’t just charming; it highlights the intricate bond between plants and pollinators. Flowers, benefiting from the pollination process, become a haven for these vital creatures. So, when you spot a bee nestled in a flower, it’s not just a nap – it’s nature’s delicate balance in action.

 

 

“I didn’t know what they were. I just thought it was a bee,” said the Albertan who stumbled across a photogenic insect when it landed on the dash of his vehicle while he was out taking photos last June. Read More: http://surl.li/lmfdp

Bee Fly

Article courtesy of: Rachel Maclean · CBC News

Beekeeper Michael Barber woke up on Wednesday morning to several calls from police looking for help after five million bees fell off a truck in Canada.

The hives were being transported when the straps holding them in place came loose, allowing them to slip free.

Mr Barber said he arrived to “a pretty crazy cloud of bees” who were “very angry, confused and homeless”.

Read More: http://surl.li/kqwoh

Beekeepers to the rescue

Article courtesy of: BBC News, Toronto Nadine Yousif

Although conditions this spring have been good, temperatures haven’t been consistently warm enough across the Prairies, said Rod Scarlett, executive director of the Canadian Honey Council. | File photo

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Bees and Climate Change
 

The days leading up to the first week of May will determine the level of losses faced by prairie beekeepers as they leave winter behind, said an industry leader.

Read More: http://surl.li/kmleo By Doug Ferguson

Article courtesy of: https://www.producer.com/

Canadian Bee DeclineBees are a crucial part of our ecosystem, and their decline in numbers is a cause for concern. Canada, like many other countries, has seen a significant decline in its bee population over the last few decades. This decline is due to a range of factors, including habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and disease.

Habitat loss is one of the primary reasons for the decline in bee populations. As urban areas expand, natural habitats are destroyed, leaving bees with fewer places to nest and forage for food. This loss of habitat is especially harmful to wild bee populations, which rely on a diverse range of flowers and plants to survive.

Pesticides are another significant factor in the decline of the Canadian bee population. Many pesticides, including neonicotinoids, are toxic to bees and can cause significant harm to both wild and domestic bee populations. These pesticides can affect bees’ immune systems, making them more susceptible to disease and other environmental stressors.

Climate change is also playing a role in the decline of bee populations. As temperatures rise, flowers and plants are blooming earlier in the year, causing a mismatch between the timing of bee activity and the availability of food. Continue reading →

Canadian Food Inspection Agency found loads of fake honey cut with cheap syrup imported as ‘pure honey’

In an effort to crack down on food fraud, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency zeroed in on honey imports and found about 22 per cent of samples were ‘adulterated’ with cheaper sugars like rice and sugar cane syrup. (Justin Newsom/CBC) Read More: https://bit.ly/3XasCHx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ali Chiasson · CBC News