Spring Hive Update:

Growth, Honey & A Call for Support 🐝🌸

As we step into early spring, we’re beginning to see beautiful signs of growth inside our hives.

We’re spotting fresh brood patterns wirh some drones and even queen cells, which means our colonies are strong enough that we have been able to begin splitting. A healthy hive can grow to 40,000–60,000 bees during peak season, and when populations surge, splitting prevents swarming and allows us to expand responsibly.

We’re also seeing an increase in honey stores — always an encouraging sign. On average, a single colony can produce 60–100 pounds of honey in a strong Florida season. But here’s the reality:

A hive also consumes 60–80 pounds of honey annually just to survive.

And with the recent cold snaps affecting fruit tree blossoms and early nectar flows, we honestly don’t know where much of their current forage is coming from. Honeybees can travel 2–3 miles in every direction (covering thousands of acres), but when blooms are sparse, that range doesn’t always guarantee abundance.

It takes roughly 2 million flowers for bees to produce just one pound of honey.

That’s why we’re asking for support this season.

Funds raised will go toward:

• Purchasing new queens for responsible requeening

• Supplemental sugar water when nectar is limited

• Expanding flower gardens around the hives

• Continuing our education and bee-safe outreach efforts

Strong colonies require strong stewardship.