Maple Bend Bee Supply

06/18/2026

It’s Morgan’s bee-day! She loves Anellabees Messner Bee Farm True Bee, Shamrock extractors, and Bee Smart Designs! Come in this weekend to celebrate, we are open until 4:30!

06/15/2026

Summer Is Here!

June in Tennessee brings long days, warm temperatures, and busy honey bees. While much of our major spring nectar flow has wrapped up, colonies are still actively gathering nectar and pollen, raising brood, and preparing for the hotter months ahead. This is a critical time for beekeepers to stay ahead of pests, monitor food stores, and ensure colonies remain healthy through summer.

What's Blooming in June?

While the spring explosion of blooms is winding down, bees can still find important forage throughout Middle Tennessee.

Nectar & Pollen Sources:
White Clover
Dutch Clover
Sumac
Privet
Mimosa Trees
Sourwood (higher elevations)
Basswood/Linden Trees
Wildflowers
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Coneflowers
Black-Eyed Susans
Vegetable Garden Blooms
Herbs such as Basil, Oregano, Thyme, and Mint

Keep an eye on your local forage conditions. Areas that receive less rainfall may see nectar production decrease quickly as temperatures rise.

June Beekeeping To-Do List

Monitor Honey Stores
Many beekeepers assume bees have plenty of food this time of year, but weather can quickly change conditions. Continue lifting hives and monitoring food reserves, especially in newly established colonies.

Watch for Swarms
Although peak swarm season has passed, colonies may still attempt to swarm if overcrowded.

Check for:
Queen cells
Congested brood nests
Lack of space for incoming nectar
Add additional supers as needed.

Stay Ahead of Varroa Mites
The bees you raise during summer become the bees that help your colony survive into fall.

Don't wait until August to begin monitoring!
✅ Perform alcohol washes or mite counts.
✅ Record mite levels.
✅ Develop a treatment plan if thresholds are exceeded.

Remember: Healthy bees in June lead to healthy winter bees later in the season.

Evaluate Queen Performance
Your queen should be laying consistently with a solid brood pattern.

Look for:
Eggs
Young larvae
Solid brood patterns
Calm colony behavior
Consider requeening colonies that are underperforming.

Provide Water Sources
As temperatures climb, bees require significant amounts of water.

Provide:
Bird baths with stones
Bee watering stations
Shallow containers with floating corks or pebbles

A reliable water source helps keep bees out of neighbors' swimming pools and pet bowls.

Looking Ahead

June is a great month to prepare for summer management. Colonies that are monitored closely now will be stronger, healthier, and better prepared for the challenges of July and August.

Need supplies, advice, or help creating a mite management plan? Stop by Maple Bend Bee Supply. We're here to help you succeed!

Thank you for supporting local beekeeping and local business.

Happy Beekeeping!
Matt Canham and Morgan Evans
Maple Bend Bee Supply

Click here for an update from Maple Bend Bee Supply!

06/07/2026

🔥 First Boxes in the Tank! 🔥
Today we fired up our new Thorne Wax Dipping Tank and dipped our very first set of hive boxes!
Wax dipping is a method of preserving wooden hive equipment by submerging it in hot wax. The heat removes moisture from the wood while the wax penetrates deep into the surface, helping protect the equipment from the elements for years to come.
Benefits of wax dipping include:
🐝 Longer-lasting hive equipment
🐝 Protection against moisture and rot
🐝 Reduced warping and cracking
🐝 No need for painting
🐝 A natural finish that looks great in the bee yard
We've been looking forward to adding this capability, and it was exciting to watch these first boxes come out of the tank. Quality woodenware is an investment, and wax dipping is one more way to help protect that investment.
Check out the video and watch our first boxes take the plunge!

05/24/2026

We’re OPEN on Memorial Day from 8:00–4:30! 🇺🇸
Stop by and see us for all your plants, bee supplies, honey, gifts, and more. Whether you’re spending the day gardening, working bees, or just enjoying the long weekend, we’d love to see you!
As we celebrate the holiday, we also want to take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. ❤️🤍💙

05/23/2026

This morning was one of those moments that reminds us exactly why family businesses mean so much to us. We were so thankful to have Wyatt and Mason helping us make boxes this morning. Watching them jump in, work hard, laugh together, and learn the value of helping out reminds us that this business is about so much more than plants and bees. It’s about family, hard work, and building something together.
Small businesses truly run on family support, and we couldn’t do what we do without ours. We’re also incredibly thankful for each and every customer who continues to support Evans Plant Farm and Maple Bend Bee Supply. Every purchase, kind word, share, and visit helps support not only our business, but our family too.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey with us. 💚

05/15/2026

Stop by Maple Bend Bee Supply to get these amazing products!!

04/17/2026

Bee PICK UP Part 2 🐝🐝🐝

04/12/2026

Why did we opt to sell Premier half blind dovetailed hive bodies? Box joints notoriously split along the fingers due to wood expansion and contraction. If the wood is not dried properly, that situation is exacerbated due to increased shrinkage. Dovetails don’t do this.

04/11/2026

Your bees are building fast—here’s what to watch this month

Hi Beekeepers,

April is go-time in the bee yard.
Colonies are building fast, nectar is starting to come in, and what you do this month will set the tone for your entire season. It’s one of the most exciting times of year—but it can also get out of hand quickly if you’re not staying ahead.
Here’s what you need to know right now.

What’s Blooming in April

These early nectar and pollen sources are what drive spring buildup:

Red Maple – one of the first major pollen sources
Henbit & Purple Deadnettle – excellent early forage
Dandelion – underrated but very important
Wild Plum & Fruit Trees – strong nectar flow
Eastern Redbud – great early support plant
White Clover (starting soon) – big nectar flow coming

If your bees are growing fast, this is why.

What Your Bees Are Doing Right Now?

Brood production is ramping up quickly

Colonies are expanding population week by week
Drones are present (or about to be)
Swarm prep has already started in strong hives

If you blink, you’ll miss it.

April Hive Checklist

Stay on top of these every 7–10 days:

Check for eggs and a healthy laying pattern
Watch for swarm cells (especially bottom of frames)
Make sure they have room to grow
Confirm queen is present and productive
Look for signs of disease or stress

Strong colonies can go from “fine” to “swarming” in a week this time of year.

Swarm Prevention Tips

April is prime swarm season.

Add space before they need it
Reverse boxes if needed (if bottom is empty, top is packed)
Consider splitting strong hives
Remove swarm cells only if you understand why they’re there

If you’re seeing multiple swarm cells… they’re already thinking about leaving.

Feeding in April

If nectar is coming in → stop feeding syrup

If weather turns cold or rainy → feeding may still be needed
Pollen patties can help boost growth early in the month

Watch your bees—not the calendar.

Varroa Awareness Starts NOW

Even though mites feel like a “later problem”… they’re not.

Plan your first mite check within a few weeks
Have a treatment plan ready
Don’t wait until summer to think about mites

Healthy spring bees = strong summer colony.

Quick April Pro Tips

Stay ahead on space or they’ll swarm

Don’t over-inspect—be intentional
Weather swings still matter (cold snaps happen)
Strong colonies now = honey later
Weak colonies need attention early

Final Thought

April is one of the most rewarding months in beekeeping… but it’s also where a lot of mistakes happen.

Stay ahead, stay observant, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
We’re here to help every step of the way.

Click here for an update from Maple Bend Bee Supply!

04/10/2026

We are restocked and ready!! Premier Bee Products