The Cottage City garden has expanded and now has a hive of honeybees. The bees were purchased from Hope Honey Farm in Hyattsville, MD and installed on May 2, 2020. The Garden made a decision last year to purchase bees because they are natural pollinators and will help the garden grow. Additionally, there is a decline in the honeybee population in general, likely due to pesticides, with concerns we don’t have enough to pollinators to support A HEALTHY PRODUCTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES that we eat every day. By adding a hive, the Garden is doing its part to help increase the honeybee population. Honeybees bring a ton of benefits to the Garden and society.
How to garden with bees:
- Stay a respectful distance from the hive, though you are welcome to quietly watch them fly in and out of the hive. Check out how they come in for a landing!
- The bees are hard at work bringing in nectar and pollen. They won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. If you see one flying around you, it is best to walk away (don’t swat).
- If anyone has a known allergy to bees, please bring your epipen or other medication with you whenever you visit the garden.
- There is a tray of water under the hive, for the bees to drink from. Please leave it there.
If you see any issues with the bees, reach out to the Beekeeping Group (Kris, Natashia, or Fred) by emailing cottage-city-gardeners@googlegroups.com.
