Did you know that there are over 20,000 species of bees? When it comes to honeybees. springtime is the most important time the of year. Let me fill you in on the buzz. After braving the winter cold and living off stored honey, bees are in need of a new springtime food supply and a push to increase their population. Spring brings the queen’s mating and egg production season to lay more drone and worker bee eggs. There are also more jobs being allocated to workers, including nursing, guarding the hive, building more wax, and regulating hive temperature. There are even workers whose jobs are to liquefy thick honey from the winter. Pretty cool, right? Once spring turns to summer, the bees have...
pr Love is in the air in February and many sweet gifts are made from the pollination of honeybees including ingredients in our me & the bees lemonade bottles. From strawberries to cherries to sunflowers you can thank the honeybee. Sadly, the bee population is dwindling more and more each year. Last year was the highest winter loss of bees since 2006. The world as we know it would not exist if the honeybees didn’t pollinate all that they do. It’s important to do your part to save the bees! I donate 10% of the profit from the sale of...
I am excited to shine the spotlight on one of the most prominent black biochemists in the 20th century for Black History Month. Marie Maynard Daly was the first Black American woman in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University! Ms. Daly conducted important research on cholesterol, sugars, and proteins. She also worked hard to increase the enrollment of minority students in medical school. She is a role model to many young scientists and females dreaming to make the world a better place! To learn more about Ms. Daly and others for Black History Month, click...
I was so honored to introduce President Obama to the enthusiastic crowd of 5,000 at the State of the Women Summit in Washington, DC on June 14th. I spoke about how everyone needs to be fearless, BEElieve in the impossible and dream like a kid. I love my new title: POTUS INTRODUCER!
Prickly Pear, also called tuna, will bloom and set fruit from early spring through the summer, depending on the variety. Prickly Pear, which is classified as both a fruit and vegetable is delicious on the inside but vicious on the outside with its sharp needle-like thorns. Practically every part of the Prickly Pear Cactus has been used from prehistoric to today’s times, including the stems, flowers, leaves, seeds, and sap. Packed with protein and vitamins, the leaves of the Prickly Pear Cactus have been used to treat diabetic issues, gastrointestinal problems, sunburn, and cold symptoms. The leaves of the Texas...
Bee-informed: Read as much as you can about honeybees and other pollinators! National geographic, the Honeybee Conservative, my Beelieve blog and the American Beekeeping Federation have informative articles about the honeybee and other important pollinators. Shop smart: Buy local honey & groceries. By supporting local growers and beekeepers you’re supporting sustainable agriculture and honey harvesting! Even eating organic fruits and veggies goes a long way. Mix it up: Plant bee-friendly flowers with different colors, shapes and bloom times. By spicing up your lawn and garden can not only boost the health of your garden but also provide bees with the pollen they need to sustain...
I am often asked, how the bees are doing. Although I would love to tell everyone they are doing great....busy pollinating fruits and veggies ans sweetening my lemonade, that’s not the whole story. There is bad buzz about the bees and you should know about it. Bee colony death continues to rise. According to the Bee Informed Partnership's latest June 2019 survey, U.S. beekeepers lost nearly 40% of their honeybee colonies last winter — the greatest reported winter hive loss since the partnership started its surveys 13 years ago. The total annual loss was slightly above average.* Shrinking habitats,...
On Earth Day, we find ways to help the Earth. That's why I think Earth Day should be every day! Have you ever heard the saying that - "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." That is why I love finding and sharing new ways to save Earth. You can do your part too. Read my Top 10 Things You can do for EARTH DAY and discover ways to reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle and more. Get Buzzy! Take and share photos. Don't forget to tag @MikailasBees. There is something for the entire family and every grade...
Spring is in the air! Wildflowers are blooming all across the country and the bees are taking notice. Remember, bees are our littlest and biggest links in our food chain and Spring is the busiest time of the year for our friends to pollinate. As you and your family go out to enjoy the great weather, always be aware of your surroundings. Bees are pretty good at warning people away. However, Worker bees will sting if they feel threatened by loud noises, curious hands, or sniffing dog snouts. When a bee stings, it releases a painful venom known as apitoxin....
I'm often asked why I spend so much energy trying to save the bees. Funny enough, my love for bees started with a series of painful stings. When I was 4 ½ years old I got stung by two bees in one week. Unsurprisingly, this experience left me terribly afraid of bees. In an effort to help me get over my fear, my parents encouraged me to do some research into the ecological role of honey bees. My research revealed how incredibly important bees are to sustaining healthy ecosystems. I also learned that bees are dying at an alarming rate....
