The Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers will host its first outdoor meeting of the season at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 132 Botanical Gardens Drive in Boothbay. A rain date is set for April 29.

The topic will be “Managing for and Collecting of Bee Swarms.” Gardens CFO and EAS Master Beekeeper Erin McGregor-Forbes will talk about swarms; how and why they happen, when they happen, how to capture them and how to manage your hives for swarming. The Gardens has hives on site and the group will visit them.

Forbes is past president of both Cumberland County Beekeepers and Maine State Beekeepers Association. Presently she is chairman of the Eastern States Apiculture Society. From her base in Portland, Forbes is most likely to be found amidst a whirlwind of activity between tending to the sustainable beekeeping operation Overland Apiaries, demonstrating how to install a package of honey bees, and enthusiastically sharing information with other beekeepers. Little by little the number of hobby beekeepers in Maine has been growing.

Forbes has simultaneously encouraged and educated many of these beekeepers as an instructor at annual bee schools and the creator of several beginner “how to” beekeeper videos.

The KLCB meeting and presentation is free and open to the public. It does not include admission to the Gardens. Admission will cost $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $8 for children 3-17.

Bring a veil and protective equipment.

For more information, visitklcbee.com, or call Jean Vose at 563-7564.


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