I have bees. This is my first year. Right now I have 1 hive but after this weekend there will be 2. I'm right in the middle of OKC.

I don't keep bees, but I do see them on my Rose of Sharon each year once it starts blooming. I have a nice patch of clover a couple of feet from the RoS that I have deliberately avoided mowing just in case bees show up early. It's about a square yard and has produced one four-leaf. So far no bees, though.

Debra

Roger, what are you planting for your bees? Do you have a specific set of plants you grow for them?

Echium and tall asters are two of the plants I normally see the most bees on in my yard.

Debra, I have clover in the lawn between my house and the neighbors. Unfortunately it gets mowed pretty regularly. I don't feel horribly bad though, because I do provide a fairly large smorgasbord of items to choose from! I've been wondering about planting red clover though. It looks interesting.

Lisa

You're not going to be able to supply all the plants needed to keep bees alive when they are active unless you own a lot of property and plant a lot of things. They are not like butterflies and host specific. They may feed on many things at different times of the day. I don't plant anything, just live in a location where they can safely travel a mile or two in any direction to forage. Jerry, the owner of the bees that live on the property, tells me we have the best tasting honey in the Norman area.

I did quit using herbicides years ago and allow my acreage to look like a well maintained and mowed pasture. Clover, dandelion, and many other blooming "weeds" cover my property. This also easily allows me to photograph nature, insects, and especially butterflies.
randy

Does anyone know where you can mailorder bees to start a hive?

My neighbor has hives and our properties are covered with honey locust trees. Wonderful honey! I am hoping he will turn the hives to us when he retires! I do understand there is a "beekeepers group" in Oklahoma City, go to okc bees dot org.

We have bees: presently ten hives. This year we ramped up our bee operation to try and make $ to help pay property insurance and taxes. I've had bees, on and off, since I was in my early teens. Even had Africans when we lived in Mexico.

I hear there is also a bee keepers' association in the Tulsa area. I just haven't had time to investigate. Anyone who would like to learn to keep bees, would do well to find a local club or association, at least an accomplished bee keeper, and get a mentor. I learned in 4-H. They're not all that hard to keep. But the learning curve is steep.

George
Tahlequah, OK

Here's a link to one of the businesses I've purchased bees from. Walter T. Kelley is another great one.

Here is a link that might be useful: R Weaver Bees

Here is a list of local beekeeper clubs across Oklahoma:

Local Clubs Affiliated with Oklahoma State Beekeepers Association

Here is a list of various state beekeeper associations provided by OSBA (I noticed one poster here is in Arkansas):

State Associations

Beekeeper associations are a good place to get started learning about bees and how to keep and tend them.

Debra

Lisa, You do know that there is a GardenWeb forum for bee keeping, don't you?

The information is not for me...my neighbors might draw a line at bee keeping :)

I was contacted by a someone who lives in the metro area and was asking some questions about plants for bees and soil questions. I encouraged the poster to come on over to the Oklahoma forum because we had all sorts of knowledgeable people who could probably help. I started the thread in hopes he would be more encouraged to hop on.

Lisa

Bees forage from a 3 mile radius. It's doesn't really matter what you are growing in your own yard. I never see them on any of my own plants. Mail ordering bees are $$$$$. There are a few local places you can buy them. This is not the time to be buying, most will be sold out and it's almost too late in the year to get a hive started. You usually have to reserve them 6 months in advance. Here's 1 local supplier, you might call and see if he has any left.

Here is a link that might be useful: George's Apiary

I planted Bees Friend this year, which, if you haven't guessed by the name, bees are supposed to absolutely love. It hasn't flowered out yet, so I'm waiting to see if it's true or not. I got the seeds from Seed Savers. It's supposed to attract all species of bees...

-Matt

I have at least two nucs (small starter hives) to sell at $100 a piece. These are from swarms I caught this week. Normally, a swarm will grow and produce honey its first season. I may well have two more, and a queen, to sell. It's been a busy week with the bees.

George
Tahlequah, OK