“Bee” a Friend – Press Gazette

MILTON — As spring flowers start to bloom, their pollinators — honey bees — resume their activity. This can mean finding swarms near homes and places of business. Calling a trained beekeeper can result in removing the swarm while maintaining a part of the ecosystem and economy.

Local beekeeper, Bill Blakenship, part of the Santa Rosa Bee Association, who operates Blakenship Hives, has been passionately advocating for just that. “If you see a swarm of bees call a beekeeper," Blankenship said. "They will come and relocate the bees before they move into your house.”

While its true that bee stings can hurt, Blankenship said they're not here to cause pain.

“Be farmiliar with the bees," he said. "All they want to do is work.”

Blankenship credits his friends' productive vegetable gardens to bee pollination. He said that it is not just the fruit and vegetables that depend on the honey bee.

“If you think about it, milk, eggs and meats, the honey bees have something to do with that, too," he said. "The chickens, in order for them to lay their eggs, they have to have grain. The grain comes from pollinated plants.”

Bees also contribute to the clothing industry by pollinating the cotton, Blankenship said.

Blankenship offered a tour of his beekeeping grounds. Watch the video online at srpressgazette.com. He offers tips on setting up a hive as well as educational information on bees.

The Santa Rosa Bee Association meets every third Thursday at the County Extension Service located at 6263 Maid Marrion and Dogwood in Milton.