It is open to HOS members and guests on work days, on open house days, and by appointment through the Site Manager. These bees emerge in late winter, it varies from late February to mid-March in the Pacific Northwest. This is an ideal time for them to help in the pollination of fruit trees and early blooming berries such as blueberries. These orchard bees are proving to be a very effective replacement for wild honey bees which have been nearly wiped out by mites. Under good conditions you can expect about a fivefold increase in your number of bees from one season to the next.
Good conditions mean average weather and lots of blossoms when the bees emerge.
The bees will not stay nearby if there is a shortage of blossoms. An ideal blossom source is Andromeda which blooms in February around Portland. We also sell empty tubes. We will not ship bees after mid February since this is too close to emergence. Home Orchard Society homepage.