Read more about the article Trees for Bees – Vendors
Bee on flowering tree

Trees for Bees – Vendors

Here’s a good list of places where the recommended trees and shrubs are available for purchase. Contact us here if you have additions to this list. What trees are good for bees?Georgia nurseries selling bee-friendly trees: Nearly Native Nursery: https://www.nearlynativenursery.com - GeorgiaJim and Debi are serious about native plants and are broadly supportive of this initiative to help plant trees for bees. Other nurseries selling bee-friendly trees: Rock Bridge Trees: https://rockbridgetrees.com/ - Tennessee“Trees for Bees” is the secondary logo. Dave Hughes is serious about helping the bees and knows how: plant more trees! Honey Tree Nursery: https://honeytreenursery.com/ - MichiganMike Connor is…

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2026 Junior Beekeeper Programs

Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association’s Junior Beekeeper programs are unique opportunities for children ages 6* – 13 to experience hands-on learning about honey bees, how they live, and how they make honey.Children will learn all about honey bees and beekeeping using a variety of methods before suiting up in protective gear and visiting a beehive with an experienced beekeeper!The day ends after extracting honey from a hive and participants are sent home with a personalized certificate, small bottle of honey, and other bee related goodies.Each program runs from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Participants must register in advance.2026 dates and locations:BUCKHEAD…

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Read more about the article 2019 Beekeeper of the Year – Ed Hoehn
AxxLC @ Pixabay, Winner medal

2019 Beekeeper of the Year – Ed Hoehn

Ed ran our Junior Beekeeping Program for many years. Under his guidance, the program has expanded in many ways. Ed cares deeply about honey bees and is passionate about the place education plays in the future of beekeeping. His presence in MABA has been vital to what makes us a great club. The MABA beekeeper of the year is someone who has not only demonstrated and promoted good beekeeping, but who also has served the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association as an outstanding volunteer. To nominate someone for this year’s award, fill out this form by September 1.  The award will…

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Read more about the article Trees for Bees
Plant a Tree; Save the Bees

Trees for Bees

Most people know that bees need nectar from flowers to survive. But what kind of flowers? A small leafy plant that flowers is called a forb, and that’s what most people think plants need. But bees don’t get most of their nectar from forbs – bees get most of their nectar from trees! And trees will not only have more flowers than forbs, but their flowers will have more nectar per flower as well. Trees also provide shade and habitat for other wildlife, too. Most trees that provide nectar bloom in the spring, but the time that bees are suffering…

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Read more about the article Links & Resources
kie-ker @ Pixabay, silk bee (colletes) on small yellow flowers

Links & Resources

Beekeeping Michael Bush Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium UGA Honey Bee Program (includes Young Harris Beekeeper Institute and Master Beekeeper Program) BeeSource Forum BeeMaster Forum Backyard Beekeeping(PDF), Alabama Cooperative Extension, James E. Tew Books The following are books recommended by the Georgia Master Beekeeping Program.First Lessons in Beekeeping by Dr. Keith DelaplaneThe Buzz about Bees: The Biology of a Superorganism by Jürgen TautzHoneybee Democracy by Thomas D. SeeleyWisdom of the Hive by Thomas D. SeeleyThe Biology of the Honey Bee by Mark WinstonThe Bees in your Backyard by J.S. Wilson & O. Messinger Carril Native Pollinators & Planting Guides Pollinator Partnership eBook: Bee Basics: An Introduction…

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Read more about the article Honey Bee Removals from a Structure
From http://gabeeremoval.blogspot.com/

Honey Bee Removals from a Structure

Honey bees make nests in enclosed cavities. If you see bees coming and going from a hole in a wall or soffit, they could be honey bees. Many people try to spray a nest like this in walls in their house and it doesn’t end well. Besides killing bees and putting chemicals into the earth, when you kill a bee nest that’s established in the walls of a house you can end up with a mess. All the dead bees and brood will smell like any other dead animal stuck in your wall. On top of that, without the bees…

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Read more about the article Carpenter Bees
macayran @ Pixabay, carpenter bee on pink flower

Carpenter Bees

Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association is a club for honey bee keepers. There’s really no such thing as “keeping” or “moving” carpenter bees, but here is some basic information if you’re concerned about carpenter bees in your home. Freshly stained/painted wood doesn’t attract carpenter bees. There’s a brief page on them in this booklet published by the USDA that refers to this: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5306468.pdf —scroll down to page 10 People report diminished carpenter bee activity on freshly sealed or painted wood.    A great natural solution is to nail up (in an unobtrusive place) a 2 x 4 section of untreated lumber- it can…

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Read more about the article 2018 Beekeeper of the Year – Gina Gallucci
AxxLC @ Pixabay, Winner medal

2018 Beekeeper of the Year – Gina Gallucci

2018: Gina Gallucci Gina Gallucci is a tireless MABA volunteer who cares deeply  about this organization. She is a Past President, and now, 6 years after stepping down from that tremendous job, she manages several other MABA programs. Gina is the voice of optimism and positive thinking. She sees and believes in the best in people, and when she gives advice she does it with an open heart. Gina has been working hard for bees, beekeepers, and MABA for many years. It’s impossible to know just how many beekeepers lives she has helped. The MABA beekeeper of the year is…

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Read more about the article Become a Volunteer for MABA
Beyond Keeping Bees MABA members share information at public events

Become a Volunteer for MABA

Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association is powered solely by volunteers. Join us! You will learn a lot about bees and beekeeping, meet interesting people, and have fun too. Everyone has something to give. There are many ways to volunteer: Man a MABA table at festivals and community events Get donations for the annual auction Help setup/cleanup at MABA events Assist with the Jr. Beekeepers Program Speak at an elementary school Serve on the Executive Board Be the A/V guy Help with the Beekeeping Short Course, Hive Inspections, Extraction Equipment Rentals, Essay Contest, Honey Contests, Annual Auction, and much more. Help maintain…

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