Greenwood Gardens is Abuzz with Two New Beehive Colonies
Pollen sacks are visible on the hind legs of the bee collecting pollen from Sedum "Purple Emperor." Photo by Vicki Johnson.
Children watch bees at work in an observation hive during Bee Day 2014. Photo by Joy Yagid.
Greenwood co-founder Peter P. Blanchard lll and Michael Atanasio, director of Food and Nutrition Services at Overlook Medical Center cut the ribbon during the welcoming ceremony. Photo by Joy Yagid.
Beekeeper Eric Hanon holds a super covered with bees that have been calmed by a smoker, which is used to mask alarm pheromones released by guard bees when danger is present. Photo by Joy Yagid.
Beekeeper Eric Hanon explains beehive math to staff and volunteers: each colony has their own queen; there are approximately 20,000 bees in each hive in early spring; each queen will lay between 1500 and 2000 eggs per day, so the colony will swell to about 60,000 by summer's end. Photo by Joy Yagid.
Greenwood staff and volunteers welcome two new beehive colonies to Greenwood Gardens. Photo by Joy Yagid.
Greenwood Gardens, a Garden Conservancy preservation partner, has teamed up with Overlook Medical Center in Springfield, NJ, to welcome two beehive colonies to the gardens this spring. Greenwood founder and resident naturalist Peter P. Blanchard lll says that it adds a new level of enjoyment and engagement to "have the bees working with the flowering plants that our head of horticulture, Sonia Uyterhoeven, is nurturing."
"It's the beginning of a great relationship," notes Michael Atanasio, Overlook's director of Food and Nutrition. "We find it a perfect fit: Greenwood is all about sustainability and we are eager to do our part, given the plight of honey bees."
Overlook Medical Center has contracted with Bee Bold Apiaries to maintain and support the beehives they sponsor. "We really appreciate Greenwood Gardens hosting us," says co-founder of Bee Bold Apiaries, Eric Hanan, who gave a brief demonstration at the April 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony. "Greenwood is a perfect venue for beehives, especially with the gardens neighboring South Mountain Reservation."
"This is an exciting partnership with Overlook, Eric, and his team," adds 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."
Read more about the Garden Conservancy's partnership with Greenwood Gardens.