Just Iowa Honey Bees 
'Do the Zoo'!

We are starting our second year at the zoo - both colonies survived the winter, and came out strong this spring.  So strong, that they wanted to swarm, thinking they didn't have enough room in the hive - so each colony started several new queen cells.  But John foiled the plan before they could implement, and split the colonies to thwart the swarming.  We are in the middle of June, and all is well, and the bees are storing honey in the supers again this year!

 

The zoo has a Plant Grow Fly conservation initiative to support native pollinators, and the bees support this program.  The zoo administrators plant native plants throughout the zoo, and our bees take full advantage of those plants!  Take time to read the information on the zoo website, and how you can make a difference for all pollinators!

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Just like last year, we will be offering honey collected at the zoo either through the Blank Park Zoo gift shop, or through our website!  Last year, the honey had a strong Black Locust nectar influence, but Mother Nature controls the outcome each year, and we no longer try to predict the future!

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Stay connected as we venture through the summer and the bees make progress on collecting honey!