Welcoming 200,000 New Bees: A Fresh Start for the Season

Spring has officially arrived at the apiary, and with it, a major milestone in the beekeeping calendar. Last week, Beekeeper Ayla welcomed 200,000 new honeybees into her buzzing ecosystem—20 screened wooden boxes, each brimming with potential, vitality, and that familiar hum of life beginning anew.

These aren’t just any bees. Each package arrived with roughly 10,000 hardworking female bees and one very important guest: a queen, traveling in her own tiny cage. These queens aren’t related to their worker bees, which means the early days are all about building trust, establishing harmony, and laying the foundation for a thriving hive.

From Box to Hive: A Gentle Transition

Introducing a package of bees to their new home is both a science and an art. Ayla began by placing the queen – safely in a cage to keep her safe – into her pocket to keep her warm. Next, she poured the bees—yes, poured—into the hive, guiding them gently and calmly. It’s a mesmerizing sight: thousands of bees cascading like a golden waterfall into their new home.

Next, she placed each queen carefully inside the hive with the cluster of bees, which will allow the workers to gradually accept her scent and leadership. The queen’s cage is designed to give the bees time to acclimate—after a few days, they’ll chew through the candy plug and release her, fully recognizing her as their queen.

Nourishing the Newcomers: Bee Tea for the Soul

But settling in takes energy. Before the first spring blooms appear—like willows, dandelions, violets, and early fruit tree blossoms—these bees need nourishment. And not just any nourishment.

Ayla prepared a warm, herbal bee tea using sage, chamomile, calendula, and nettle—steeped with intention and sweetened with honey harvested from her own hives. This blend isn’t just fragrant and delicious—it’s packed with benefits for immune and digestive health. It’s a nurturing gift for the bees as they orient themselves, draw out new wax, and prepare to raise the season’s first brood.

A Delicate Dance of Nature and Nurture

There’s something poetic about this moment in the apiary. It’s not just about starting a new colony—it’s about renewal, trust, and the deeply symbiotic relationship between humans and honeybees.

Each package of bees represents a leap of faith. The bees must adapt to a new home. The queen must be accepted. And nature must do its part, coaxing out nectar-rich blooms for foraging. The beekeeper’s role is to guide, support, and—perhaps most importantly—listen.

Why It Matters to Us

At The Hive Taproom, we don’t just make mead—we steward bees. Every glass of session mead we pour begins with moments like these: with care, patience, and reverence for the pollinators who make it all possible. The better buzz starts here—in the apiary, with a beekeeper’s steady hands and 200,000 tiny wings taking flight into spring.

So next time you sip one of our beverages, think of the willows swaying, the violets opening, and the queen bees settling into their new thrones. This is where flavor begins—with wildflowers, wellness, and a whole lot of heart.