Backyard Bee Hive

Honeybee-centric recipes & DIY here. Bees and beekeeping on the Backyard Bee Hive Blog at 303beekeeper.com

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We’re apparently on the other side of ground cherry season. They only dropped half a pint today. . #groundcherry #auntmollygroundcherries #heirloom #bakercreekrareseeds #Earthboxgrown #foundthispostdraftonmyoldphone https://www.instagram.com/p/B29r26QHJcl/?igshid=1apc831i6m1u3

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Cream Scones with Lemon Curd 🍋 Another January #cooking challenge. ~ I used #alicemedrich's "Lemon (or Lime) Curd #madewithhoney #recipe for @foodinjars' #fijchallenge and made a rookie mistake. I fell for the romance of Meyer lemons. Full "scientist of yummy" confession in the comments.  ~ 🍋 Lemon Curd made w/Honey 3-4 medium lemons* or 6-7 limes 3 large eggs OR 1 egg + 3 yolks 2/3 c. honey 1/16 t. fine salt 6 T unsalted butter, in pats ~ Set a medium-fine mesh strainer over a medium bowl for the finished curd and have a silicon spatula handy. ~ Grate the zest of two of the lemons (or 3 of the limes) into a 1-qt, heavy-bottomed, non-reactive saucepan. Whisk in the eggs, honey, and salt. ~ Squeeze juice from the lemons or limes to measure 1/2 c. and whisk in. Add the butter pieces. ~ Cook over medium heat, whisking into the corners and scraping the sides and bottom of the pan constantly (to avoid scorching the curd) until the butter is melted and the mixture thickens and begins to simmer at the edges. Continue whisking and sweeping every inch of the pan, allowing the mixture to bubble gently all over for about 10 seconds. ~ Use the silicon spatula to scrape and push the curd through the strainer, pressing gently on any solids. Scrape the curd on the underside of the strainer into the bowl. Chill before using. Curd keeps in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. It freezes well, too.  *regular supermarket lemons https://www.instagram.com/p/BtAEeoJhs-o/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p4lmpfjhlvh

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😃 I’m going to get seeds from my only white #strawflower!! Let’s start talking #seedswap! ~ #Lasioglossum (dialictus) #bees #nativebees #pollinators #whiteflowers #strawflowers #notwaterwise #coloradogarden #frugalgardener https://www.instagram.com/p/BoNGZmkBQlE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=115mq3ymsc3pv

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Dwindling bee sightings and summer’s end go hand in hand. ~ Here is a #Bombusfervidus on #Penstemonstrictus in early summer. Normally a deep #purple, this penstemon was sun bleached, a phenomenon that #gardeners new to #Colorado should take into account when designing their gardens. #loveyourlandscape #gardenlove #lovedbybees #coloradogardens #coloradogardener #coloradogardening #instagarden #purpleflowers #phenology #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/BoKl5LCBhJt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1alu0fspy2iym

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Found the tiniest of #bees stuck to a petunia stem. I kinda picked it off with a blade of dry grass, which vibrated strongly before the little one took flight. No mask so not #hylaeus. Long antenna so not #ceratina? #mysterybee #beeID #nativebees #petuniaexserta https://www.instagram.com/p/BoHtMKrBOnE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7rj2ddbi1udx

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Bee of the woods. ~ #Hylaeus on bluebeard blossom. This year I deadheaded the #caryopteris and it’s reblooming! Letting it go to seed wasn’t producing volunteers (just one in 8 years) but my Spring cuttings are doing quite nicely. The 3” sprigs are 6” plantlets and handled September’s 10-day heatwave completely unphased. #frugalgardener #coloradogardener #drygarden #waterwisegardening #caryopterisandbees #beesandmacro #macrophotography #purpleflowers https://www.instagram.com/p/BoFcalUByYl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1oqn55zy1imbr

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These guys are really fast flyers. ~ Deadheading #zinnias produces plants with more blooms than those left alone. But on this #lastdayofsummer, this sweat bee is helping me select a single #flower head to let go to seed, ensuring blooms for generations to come. #firstdayoffall #autumn #autumnalequinox #whiteflowers #greenbee #agapostemon #Halictidae #bees #nativebees #beesandmacro #macrophotography #gardeningtips https://www.instagram.com/p/BoBHnOcBHdG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3b4u8iqwtll8

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First blossoms of a Stupice #cherrytomato. ~ I did not plant tomatoes this year so I’m #kerbabbled by this late bloomer. It’s getting late in the #beeseason so I’ll be breaking out the ole ‘lectric toothbrush for #buzzpollination AKA #sonication. And I’ll be firing up the #growtent because it’s hard to beat a #homegrown winter tomato. 🍅 Ugh. I can’t believe I’m talking about winter. But the heat wave just broke — 58 days in the 90s plus that one over 💯 — and it can only mean one thing. Snow is on the way. #flowersandmacro #stupice #heirloomtomatoes #containergrown #shouldakeptdriving #californiadreaming https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9lNflhuX4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rs294bvwc9cc

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Carding Wool ~ Sorry the video’s a little blurry. I kinda just stuck the camera under the leaf that was wiggling. ♀ #anthidiummanicatum #woolcarderbee #abeilles #abejas #bees #bienen #μέλισσες #naturevideo #beesandmacro https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzsEozncQ3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gn4eozwl4rd4

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Even half an aster is captivating when it’s bedazzled. ~ #agopostemon #abeilles #abejas #bees #bienen #μέλισσες #nativebees #sweatbee #autumniscoming https://www.instagram.com/p/BnxIEjwnV3o/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qn7chpfx962k

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Get it, girl! ~ #abeilles #abejas #bees #bienen #μέλισσες #sedumautumnjoy #lovedbybees #waterwise #beesandblooms #phonemacro https://www.instagram.com/p/BnrhtswnVDp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cdagx2yencnp

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Get it, girl! ~ #abeilles #abejas #bees #bienen #μέλισσες #sedumautumnjoy #lovedbybees #waterwise #beesandblooms #phonemacro https://www.instagram.com/p/BnrhfI_nrNe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2lj75cu4hafx

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I always strive to get their eyes in focus. ~ But I’ll settle for a #beebutt. 🐝 Honeybee on oregano, a long-bloomer in the #waterwise garden. #abeilles #abejas #bees #bienen #μέλισσες #beesandmacro #macromood #macrophotography #phonemacro https://www.instagram.com/p/Bno_uamn5yR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2qfzejaew4m6

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Rocky Mountain #BeePlant ~ #cleomeserrulata #macro #flowersandmacro #purpleflowers #instaflower #wheredembeesat #morebeesplease https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnmho-jHc1j/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16fdwyt6cz4d0

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A chunk of fresh baked bread makes me happy. ~ But I think I enjoy the process of making it even more. From proofing the yeast to anxiously waiting for the loaf to cool enough to tear into, it’s my favorite thing after #bees and photographing bees. I miss teaching at @cookstreetschool. We had fun back then didn’t we @victoriaschocolates? Made with a nice @beesponsible regional #honey from my home state, #NewYork, this #roundhoneychallad woulda been in my #artisanbreads class. ~ #linkedloopschallah #shanahtovah #nationalhoneymonth https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnj7BmiH19Z/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=73pxemasmgma

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Mango Popsicle ~ Just so in love with this #kniphofia but still no hummers. #patience #ifyouplantittheywillcome #xeric #drygarden #flowersandmacro #macrophoto #photododo https://www.instagram.com/p/Bneo4WlnwfN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1448oxxoqfgwf

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Rabbitbrush ~ Like many fall bloomers, it produces a dark honey. It’s very thick and prone to crystallization. The flavor is herbal, dare I say weedy? and nutty. A perfect one to pair with apples for Rosh Hashanah in 3 days. #shanahtovah ~ #chamisa #bees #yaybees #nationalhoneymonth https://www.instagram.com/p/BncCmYeHPHR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ic09klya7buf