Buddha Bee-Log

Welcome to the Buddha Bee-log where we share insights from the hive, our community, and rhythms of the season. Our posts explore the fascinating world of honey bee biology, behavior, and stewardship, offering approachable science and practical knowledge for beekeepers and bee enthusiasts alike. Just like our bees, our writing follows the rhythm of the seasons — quieter in winter, then buzzing again with new discoveries as spring blooms. Stay tuned for fresh posts throughout the high season, when the bees (and our ideas) are buzzing.

Latest From the Hive

Bees in Your Backyard: Benefits of Hosting a Hive

Hosting a hive transforms your space and your life. Discover how supporting bees, learning from experts, and sharing honey make hive visits a monthly highlight.

Read More!
Beekeepers in protective suits exchanging a honey frame outdoors during daytime.

Bee-Log Archives

  • Beekeepers in protective suits working with a honey frame outdoors on a sunny day.

    Bees in Your Backyard: Benefits of Hosting a Hive

    Hosting a hive transforms your space and your life. Discover how supporting bees, learning from experts, and sharing honey make hive visits a monthly highlight.

    Read More
  • A digital abstract art piece featuring intertwined blue and orange lines on a black background.

    Honey Bee Sensory Superpowers: Magnetoreception

    Discover the hidden “sixth sense” of honey bees—their ability to detect Earth’s magnetic field. This remarkable skill helps them navigate, forage, and communicate with astonishing precision.

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  • Close-up view of honey bees on a hive, showing their striped bodies and wings

    What We Learned from Testing the BeeScanning App

    Can your smartphone really detect Varroa mites? We tested the BeeScanning App to see how it performs—and uncovered some surprising results.

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  • Close-up of a honey bee collecting nectar or pollen.

    Honey Bee Sensory Superpowers: Hearing

    Step inside the dark world of the honey bee hive, where communication runs deeper than we once thought. This post uncovers how bees use sound vibrations to navigate their intricate social lives and share a hidden language.

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  • Extreme close-up of a bee's eye and surrounding hairs, showing detailed texture and structure.

    Honey Bee Sensory Superpowers: Sight

    Honey bees see the world through five eyes that detect color, motion, UV light, and sunlight intensity. This post explores how their unique vision guides them to flowers and helps them navigate their world.

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  • A close-up of a bee on a honeycomb.

    The Heterothermic Mastery of Honey Bees

    Honey bees expertly regulate temperature to protect their hive, queen, and brood through every season. This blog reveals how they stay balanced using cooling, heating, and cooperative thermoregulation.

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  • A yellow sponge being held in a person's hand.

    Alex Mulholland’s Beeswax Processing Journey

    See how leftover wax cappings from honey extraction were transformed into beautifully filtered beeswax bars. One of our hosts shares the full process with stunning photos from start to finish.

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  • Close-up of a honey bee on a wooden surface showing its head, thorax, and legs.

    From Resin to Remedy: How Honey Bees Craft and Use Propolis

    Discover the remarkable world of propolis—the “bee glue” that protects and sustains the hive. This blog explores how bees make it, the science behind it, and its powerful benefits for both bees and humans.

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  • Beekeeping honey frames with honeycomb on a wooden board outdoors.

    Bees at Work: The Wonders of Wax

    Beeswax comb is an adaptable and efficient architectural marvel. This blog explores how bees build it, the properties of beeswax, and the surprising shape variety beyond the familiar hexagons.

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  • Woman standing next to colorful beehives at a bee sanctuary, with a sign that reads 'We host bees with Buddha Bee Apiary'

    Host Spotlight: Amy Singleton

    Amy is one of our lovely Buddha Bee hosts who has been with us since 2021. This short testimonial dives into Amy's inspiring journey, where her love for beekeeping and involvement with Buddha Bee truly shines!

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  • Close-up of two bees engaging in a confrontation on a wooden surface.

    Beekeeper Spotlight: Hilary Kearney of Girl Next Door Honey

    This month’s blog features an interview with Hilary Kearney of Girl Next Door Honey. Explore her new book, Heart of the Hive, with stunning photos by Eric Tourneret and fascinating insights into bee behavior and biology.

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  • Two honeycomb frames, one with bees and the other with honey and brood, in a hive outdoors.

    Is Honey Just Bee Vomit? An In-depth Look into How Honey is Made and Harvested

    Explore the origins of honey: from the intricate processes carried out by bees as they transform nectar into honey, to the careful extraction methods employed by beekeepers to harvest this precious product.

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  • A close-up of a bright yellow sunflower with a bee resting on the center.

    Beyond Honey Bees: The Secret Lives of Solitary Bees

    This blog explores native bee social structures, nesting behaviors, and floral preferences, showcasing their essential role in the natural world.

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  • A person in beekeeping suit holding a honeycomb frame outdoors with trees in the background.

    Did the Bees Need Eclipse Glasses too?

    Honey, Honey Bees, and Eclipses – A Conversation with Dr. Ferhat Ozturk, Assistant Professor of Practice in Integrated Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

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  • Collage of four images: a bee on a purple flower, a monarch butterfly on a pink flower, a bumblebee on a branch, and a hummingbird near orange flowers.

    Re-visiting Our Impact on Native Pollinators

    Explore the ways Buddha Bee Apiary is consciously considering native pollinators in our beekeeping practices.

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  • Black and white illustration of three insects: a female insect, a male insect, and a male insect, each with symbols above indicating gender.

    The Caste System of Honey Bees

    Ever wondered about the social structure of honey bees? Read this article to dive into this well-known controversy among beekeepers!

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  • A hand holding a graduated container filled with a yellowish liquid, with a green lid, against a plain background.

    Local Honey vs Store-Bought: What a DNA Test Revealed

    Read how two honey samples—one local and the other from a store—underwent DNA testing to uncover the plant species present.

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  • A hive of honeybees attached to the bottom of a horizontal wooden beam over a sidewalk, with a street and trees in the background.

    All About Honey Bee Swarms (and what to do if you see one)

    What is a swarm and why do bees do it? Get all your swarm questions answered in this deep dive.

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  • Close-up of a mosquito feeding on human skin.

    3 Methods to Control Mosquitoes Without Harming Bees

    Looking for bee-safe mosquito treatment? Here are three tips to control mosquitos without toxic sprays that harm pollinators and other wildlife.

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  • Six books stacked on a wooden outdoor table, with patio furniture and trees in the background.

    5 Books Worth Reading if you Love Bees

    In this article, our operations manager shares his five favorite books from this year. The topics range from beekeeping to climate change to seed saving!

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  • Storefront of The Honey Shack with colorful sign, large windows, and a minimarket open for honey sales.

    The Best Beekeeping Supply Stores in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill

    Whether you need woodenware or glass jars, we put together a list of the beekeeping stores in Raleigh to help you buy what you need locally.

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  • Two white beehives on a wooden platform covered in snow, with snow-covered trees in the background.

    What Happens to Honey Bees in the Winter?

    In this article, we cover common questions about honeybees during the winter. Learn what they eat, what they do, and why they don’t always survive.

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  • Beekeeping hive boxes on a wooden stand in a grassy backyard.

    Beekeepers Have a Responsibility to Advocate for Native Pollinators

    Honeybees have gotten a lot of attention in recent years. There are over 400 species of native bees in North Carolina. They need our help, too.

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  • A beekeeping hive box on a wooden platform surrounded by mulch in a forested area with dense green trees and bushes.

    How Much Space do you Need for a Beehive?

    Wondering if you can have a beehive in your back garden? Here's how to find out if you have enough space for them.

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  • Setting up podcast recording equipment with a microphone, headphones, and a person typing on a laptop.

    7 Beekeeping Podcasts (Rated by a Beekeeper)

    With over 850,000 podcasts out there, the hard part isn’t finding a podcast about bees...it’s finding the ones worth listening to. Here are our favorites.

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  • Hummingbird feeding at a red hummingbird feeder with bees and a bee in flight nearby, blurred green background.

    How to Create a Safe Bee Watering Station

    In just a few minutes, using materials you already have at home, you can create a reliable watering hole for your honey bees.

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  • A person wearing yellow gloves is inspecting a beehive with honeycomb frames inside. There is a smoker device nearby emitting smoke, used for calming the bees.

    Why do Beekeepers Use Smoke?

    Have you ever seen a beekeeper use a metal contraption to blow smoke before opening the hive? This device is called a smoker, and it’s an essential tool that helps keep bees and beekeepers safe.

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  • A bee collecting nectar from pink and white flowers on a green plant.

    What Flowers to Honey Bees Like?

    Just like humans, healthy pollinators require a balanced diet. In this article, we cover honey bees’ favorite flowers.

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  • Do Beekeepers Get Stung Often?

    Bee stings happen but they’re easily avoidable. Learn more about how beekeepers stay safe while working with hives.

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Written by Alfredo Salkeld and Claudia Roller