bees

battman1_2000 · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 8 Location: denton,TEXAS

i'm getting tired of manually pollinating my vegetables and, even though I'm allergic to them, I'd like to try a very easy way to attracting bees to my little garden. This there a place in N. Tx (Denton) area where i can purchase a "bee starting kit"?

dragonfly · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:21 pm Post subject:

A bee starting kit is an expensive endeavor, and the nearest place for you to buy bee supplies from a large scale supplier is Dadant in Paris, Tx. Your best bet for supplies is to mail order a complete hive kit from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. Their prices are a little better than everyone else from what I have found. After you have your "kit", you have to buy bees. There's a lady in the Burleson area that sells bees, and a few other beekeepers I know of who occasionally sell them. If you are serious about beekeeping, be prepared to spend some money and some time. It's a great hobby, but requires a fair amount of money, time, and effort. If you need names of beekeepers and suppliers, I can get them for you.

SisterGrove · Joined: 21 Jul 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Princeton, TX

Collin County Bee Keepers meet Monday July 12th, 6:30PM at the Heard Museum in McKinney. This is a large, friendly and helpful group. I have never see such a welcoming group. You can get all of the help and information you want/need there. Visitors are welcome at no charge. I will be at the meeting Monday. Hope to see you there.

This fall, Dr. Alan Eynon will be teaching a continuing education class at Richland College (US75 and LBJ). Seven classes. He is a good teacher. I took his class this spring. He belongs to the Trinity Valley Bee Keepers, the Dallas Group. I have not been to their meetings.

Collin Co Bee Keepers has a class every Jan-April. I believe you end up with a hive when you're done.

Let me know if I can help.

Russ

Tricky Grama · Posted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:40 am Post subject: bees

Battman-
I thought you meant you just wanted bees to come to your garden occasionally, to polinate, not start a whole hive! Anyway, if that is the case, how about a small flower garden w/species that are most likey to attract bees? We have 4 o'clocks that require NO care, come up every year & attract bees. Also sunflowers. Even the blooming wandering jew attracts bees. Daisies & coreopsis are easy too. I'd be happy to send you 4 o'clock seeds.
Plano Patty