Beehives Come to Greenwood Gardens

Greenwood Gardens, in partnership with Overlook Medical Center of Springfield, N.J., welcomed two beehive colonies to the Gardens this spring. During a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 20, Greenwood founder and resident naturalist Peter P. Blanchard III remarked, “This is a great occasion! It adds a whole other level of enjoyment and participation having the bees working with the flowering plants that Sonia Uyterhoeven, Head of Horticulture, is nurturing.”

Greenwood co-founder, Peter P. Blanchard III and Michael Atanasio, director of Food and Nutrition Services at Overlook Medical Center cutting the ribbon during the welcoming ceremony.

“It’s a beginning of a great relationship,” said Michael Atanasio, director of Food and Nutrition Services at Overlook. “We find it a perfect fit given that Greenwood is all about sustainability and we are eager to help bolster some of Greenwood’s programs that will benefit community.” Atanasio added, “As a member of the Atlantic Health System, Overlook invests time and resources in sustainable programs to benefit the community and we are eager to do our part, given the plight of honey bees.” Overlook maintains beehives on the roof of its building and 8 other hives in the area.

Overlook Medical Center has contracted with Bee Bold Apiaries to maintain and support the beehives they sponsor. “We really appreciate Greenwood Gardens hosting us,” said co-founder of Bee Bold Apiaries, Eric Hanan.  “Greenwood is a perfect venue for beehives, especially with the Gardens neighboring South Mountain Reservation.”

 “This is an exciting partnership with Overlook and we look forward to having Eric and his team help us take care of the bees and hives” said Liz Johnson, Executive Director of Greenwood Gardens. “Overlook participated in our ‘Bee Day’ last year and we look forward to doing more with them in the future.”

                                                                    ~Photos by Joy Yagid, except where noted

 

 

 

Beekeeper Eric Hanon explains to Greenwood staff and volunteers that each colony has their own queen and there are approximately 20,000 bees in each hive this time of the year (April) and that each queen will lay 1500 to 2000 eggs per day—so the colony will swell to about 60,000 by the end of the summer.

Beekeeper Eric Hanon explains: “We wear white clothing because black or dark colors can make the bees think a bear is near. Before entering a hive, we use a smoker, because it masks alarm pheromones released by guard bees when danger is present. The smoke confuses and calms the bees.”

Beekeeper Eric Hanon holds a super covered with bees calmed by the smoke.

Pollen sacks are visible on the hind legs of the bee collecting pollen from Sedum 'Purple Emperor' ~ photo by Vicki Johnson

Greenwood staff and volunteers welcome two new beehive colonies to Greenwood Gardens

Mark your calendars for Greenwood Gardens' popular summer celebration of

Un-BEE-lieveable Bees, Butterflies and Birds

Coming to the Garden Saturday, July 23 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Click on the photo above to learn more