Orange Blossom Beekeepers Association

Monthly Meeting: Aug 19, 2020

OBBA Announcements

What's been going on?

COVID Pandemic and Cancelled Meetings

No Meetings Since Feburary - so this is our new start!

View previous meeting presentations on our website

Workshops

We are still able to do some workshop activities safely during COVID times …

Workshop: Making Splits

Made (25) nucs across apiary
Re-queened entire apirary!
Extracted and bottled over 95 lbs of honey to sell (Thanks Andrew!)

Virtual Workshop: Installing a Nuc

Workshop: Creating a nuc

Social Media

Facebook: OrangeBlossomBeekeepers

(Thanks, Beth!)

Instagram: OrangeBlossomBeekeepers

(Thanks, Julia!)

Slack: obba.slack.com

(Thanks, Andrew!)

YouTube: Orange Blossom Beekeepers

OBBA Website: orangeblossombeekeepers.org

We have been adding some new features and content:

Online Event Calendar (obba-calendar)
Online Membership Sign-up (join-obba)
WikiBee (obba-wiki-bee)

Outreach

Central Florida Fair

Great experience at the Central Florida Fair!

Orlando Science Museum: Great Outdoors Weekend

Great experience at the Orlando Science Museum!

Black Bee Honey Project

Current situation:

The hive is being checked on weekly.
No non-city employees allowed on site currently

Plans:

A condensed (6 mo) program
3 (likely virtual) 45 min lessons once a week and a hands on lesson at South side farms in Paramore make up one month
No start date - idea generation and interest finding phase

2020 National Honey Bee Day

Sadly - a casualty of the pandemic…

Maybe next year!

Membership

OBBA Memembership

We have online signup now!

If you haven't, please pay your annual dues:

OrangeBlossomBeekeepers.org/join-obba/

OBBA Member Apiary

OBBA Member Apiary is Live!

If you:

Do not have a place to practice beekeeping and
Would like to have a hive

Let Matt (OBBA President) or Andrew/Craig (Apiary Managers) know!

Honey

We need to sell it! This is the most effective way we fund our organization.

We have over 95 lbs ready to sell!

Number (1 lbs)	Price
1 bottle	$10
2 bottles	$18
3 bottles	$25

Aug/Sep Bee Management

Current UF Management Recommendations (Aug)

Feed colonies if light
Monitor for and control small hive beetles
Monitor colonies for varroa
Treat for AFB/EFB if needed

What is blooming in Central Florida (Aug)

Goldenrod
Joint Weed
Mexican Clover
Partridge Pea
Primrose Willow
Red Bay
Sandhill Prarie Clover
Spanish Needle

Spiderwort/Dayflower
Spotted Mint
Sumac
Vine Aster
Red Mangrove
Black Mangrove
White Mangrove

Current UF Management Recommendations (Sep)

Super colonies if strong Brazilian Pepper Flow
Monitor colonies for varroa
Feed colonies if light
Consider treating colonies for Nosema if needed

What is blooming in Central Florida (Sep)

Bush Aster - Aster spp.
Goldenrod - Solidago spp.
Mexican Clover - Richardia spp.
Primrose Willow - Ludwigia spp.
Red Bay - Persea borbonia
Smart Weed - Polygonum spp.

Spanish Needle - Bidens spp.
Spiderwort/Dayflower - Tradescantia virginiana
Spotted Mint - Monarda punctata
Sumac - Rhus typhina
Vine Aster - Ampelaster carolinianus