Bee Keeping Advice for CT
Return to DiscussionsGuzzi27's advice is perfect. Our local bee club has an annual training class that prepares one for getting bees. I just did a search engine query on CT beekeeping and there are many sources in the area. It's not easy to keep bees any longer - small hive beetles, varroa mites, and a few other problems, many of which were brought in from overseas (is globalization really worth it???). However, in CT you have winters cold enough to help control some of the problems. Go for it but only after having taken a class, and go slow at first. Good luck.
Other sources. Check your local university , many have a Agricultural Department with beekeeping info.
Seed catalogues, many have a section for pollinators.
I don't keep bees (a buddy used to), but they do come to the Clematis, Morning Glories, and Ecanatias... We have planted for Butterflies and Hummingbirds ;-) The ones listed are mostly perennials and all have long blooming periods. Other plants I see bees at are any squash and the wifes Gladiolus, both have long bloom periods. It's good to have a good mix of early, mid, late, and continuous bloomers and lots of them. Don't forget fruit trees and bushes are great earl bloomers with tons of flowers.