BuzzandBloom

07/02/2024

03/17/2024

Only two weeks away! The spring market at the depot is gonna be a blast! So many fun ways to celebrate spring. I’ll be here with another 100 local vendors offering amazing goodies 🥰 Hope to see you there!

03/11/2024

So excited to be participating in the Spring Market again! This was such a blast last year and I can’t wait to see you all again to celebrate the start of spring with 100 other local vendors!

02/06/2024

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! If you’re looking for some honey for your honey, I’ve got you covered! With cute bear jars and full quarts of honey from my fall harvest available online to ship across the country or for local delivery. Don’t miss out on any of the sweet-smelling beeswax candles or body care goodness either! Plenty of love to go around for anyone you love ❤️ More fun updates to come from me! Sorry about the radio silence, but my honey and I recently moved, which means a new home, office, and workshop to settle into! Excited to show you all the growth to come 🥰

01/01/2024

Good morning 2024! 🌞 New year, new look - Buzz & Bloom is officially launched and I couldn’t be more thrilled! 🎉 Check out the new website at buzzandbloomfarms.com and join me on this exciting journey! 🐝 I can’t wait to share all the incredible wonders of the bee world with you this year! 🌼✨

Today, I’m starting the year off right by spending some quality time with Max, reflecting on the past and setting resolutions for the future. One of my big resolutions is to make time for the simple joys in life, catching as many sunrises and sunsets as I can. 🌅

This morning, I woke up to a thick marine layer, but Bruno and I stepped out for our sunrise walk. As we climbed higher, we emerged from the fog and were greeted by a stunning blue morning on our way to Lake Padden. What a fantastic way to kickstart the year! 🏞️💙

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas 🎄 It has been an incredible weekend filled with festivities. On Saturday, surprised me with the big question 💍 during a romantic stroll through the stunning Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. We then celebrated with a delightful brunch and even witnessed some street magic. It has been an absolute joy sharing this exciting news with our loved ones throughout the weekend. Our Christmas Eve dinner with was lovely, and we enjoyed a peaceful Christmas morning followed by a leisurely walk around Lake Padden. This weekend has truly been a celebration of love and happiness, setting the stage for an amazing new year ahead 🥰

12/22/2023

Happy solstice lovely people of the world 🥰🌎🌞 Bring on the festivities and the sunshine

11/24/2023

I hope you all had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving! 🍁 I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support. As a small business owner, every purchase means the world to me. So, to show my appreciation, I have some exciting deals coming up!

Tomorrow, on Small Business Saturday, you can enjoy a 20% OFF discount on my website all day long! Just use the code SMALLBIZSATURDAY at checkout. It's my way of saying thank you for choosing to support small businesses like mine.

On Monday, I'll be offering free shipping on all orders. 💌 This is the perfect opportunity to snag those items you've had your eye on, without worrying about extra shipping costs.

I know this year has been challenging for many, and I wanted to make sure my products are accessible to as many people as possible. So, whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for unique gifts for your loved ones, I hope these deals bring a little extra joy to your holiday season.

Thank you again for your continued support. It truly means the world to me. Wishing you a joyful and festive weekend!

11/15/2023

I was knee-deep in holiday prep, when out of nowhere, Bruno comes up to me and whispers, "Hey, let's go catch that stunning sunset!" This fluff of mine always knows how to get me out of my busy bubble, no matter how caught up I can get.

By the way, sorry for being a bit MIA on here lately. With the event just around the corner, I've been hustling like crazy. It's all worth it because I'm so excited to show you guys some of the awesome stuff I've been working on for the holidays. Trust me, you won't want to miss it!

Keep your eyes peeled for a holiday gift guide that I'll be dropping soon for all my newsletter subscribers. It's gonna be packed with all sorts of amazing ideas to make your holiday shopping a breeze. Can't wait to share it with you all!

11/06/2023

Big thanks to everyone who made it to my beekeeping and candle dipping class at yesterday! Always a blast to share about bees and play with beeswax! Teaching and connecting with new bee enthusiasts is always a joy 🐝 Stay tuned for more classes in 2024!

11/02/2023

🎉 Exciting Announcement! 🎉

Some of you may have already heard… I have some news to share with all of you! As we enter 2024, I am embarking on a rebrand and revamp for Bud & Bloom Botanicals, and I couldn't be more thrilled to introduce you to our new identity: Buzz & Bloom! 🐝🌼

Over the past four years, my journey has taken me on a remarkable path, and this business has evolved into something truly special. With the bees taking center stage, Buzz & Bloom feels like the perfect name for this next chapter.

With humble beginnings as an herbal apothecary, honey venture, and doula service, this business has blossomed into a destination for the finest local honey and beeswax products, all with a delightful herbal twist. 🍯🌼

At Buzz & Bloom, get ready to immerse yourself in a world of honey varietals, each carefully labeled with specific nectar flows, showcasing the diverse flavors of Whatcom County. The beloved offerings like infused honey straws, honey lollipops, beeswax candles, and CBD beeswax balms will continue to be at the heart of Buzz & Bloom. Additionally, I will be introducing seasonal and limited quantities of my meticulously crafted hydrosols, ensuring the highest quality for your skincare routine.

But that's not all! As I embark on this exciting transition, I am thrilled to dive deeper into the captivating world of beekeeping and share the wonders of pollination through local education. 🐝

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for being a part of this rebranding journey. While the official roll-out won't be until January 1st, I wanted to give myself some time to ensure a seamless transition. So, stay tuned for updates and get ready to experience the buzz and bloom like never before! 🌼✨

10/26/2023

This morning's walk was absolutely amazing 🤩 The first frost has arrived, and it couldn't have been more perfect timing as I planted my tulip bulbs just yesterday. I can't get enough of the stunning fall colors in my backyard.

Lately, I've been embracing the change in weather and taking some rest and cozy time. It's been a nice break from the social media scene and holiday prep, but now I have some catching up to do on the prompts. So, here's a rapid-fire recap of the ones I've missed:

21. A sting story: Let me share the time I thought it was a brilliant idea to w**d whack my hives without wearing a suit. Needless to say, I ended up with over 30 stings. Lesson learned! 🤦🏼‍♀️

23. Something I wish non-beekeepers knew: It's important to know how to buy honey and what to look for. Seasonally harvested local and raw honey offers a wide variety of flavors and allergy relief!

24. A skill or thing I'd like to learn: I'm eager to identify pollens in my honey under a microscope. It would allow me to more accurately label my seasonal honeys. How cool would that be?

25. The most satisfying thing about beekeeping: Hearing the healthy buzz of a hive that has successfully made it through the winter. It's a rewarding feeling like no other.

And finally, 26. A shoutout to a local bee shop: I want to give a big shoutout to . The nucleus colonies I received from Les have been incredibly strong and healthy, looking fantastic as we head into winter. Plus, they always have the gear I need!

More updates coming tomorrow as I strive to get back on track and dive into busy bee mode for the upcoming holidays and bee planning for 2024. Stay tuned! 🐝

10/13/2023

I spent most of the day in the air on my way to visit my tutu , so I only have airplane pictures for you today. But for my , my favorite learning resources are books. 📚

Don’t get me wrong, I’m learning SO much in my master beekeeping program, and I love hands-on learning a lot, but reading about bees has been one of the best resources for the steep learning curve of beekeeping. 🐝

Here are some of my favorite beekeeping books that have been an insightful window into the big world of bees and a great place to turn as I come up with more beekeeping questions every year:

1. "Natural Beekeeping" by Ross Conrad
2. "Common Sense Natural Beekeeping" by Kim Flottom (or really any book by Kim Flottom)
3. "ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture" - Amos Ives Root

These books have truly helped me navigate the fascinating journey of beekeeping. 🌼

10/11/2023

Todays prompt is sharing a skill that I could easily teach. One of my favorite things to teach is beeswax candle dipping! It's such a fun and easy activity that I've done in a few classes before. This November, it'll be a part of my beekeeping class at . 🕯️ Beeswax candle dipping is actually an ancient method of candle making, and the result is absolutely amazing - slow burning and oh-so-fragrant candles!

Unfortunately, my November class is already sold out, but don't worry! Keep an eye out for more classes coming in 2024. In the meantime, you can still bring some cozy vibes to your home this fall with my small, large, and herbal rolled beeswax candles available on my website. 🏡💛

10/08/2023

My favorite forage for is the mountain huckleberry. 🍯🌸 I have been a huckleberry picker since before I can remember. These sweet little berries have been a staple for me, and every autumn it’s tradition to head into the mountains to gather these sweet treats. Not really a honey bee forage, but their early spring blooms are a favorite for many kinds of bumblebees. 🐝 Huckleberries wouldn’t bee pollinated without the help of our fuzzy bee friends.

10/05/2023

Day 5 of and we're talking mite treatment.

During the bee season (March-October), I monitor mite counts using a sticky mite board check. This helps me make decisions for the health of my hives. I strengthen weak hives in the spring with new queens selected for mite resistance, honey production, and gentleness. Usually, my hives don't need treatment in the spring due to low mite counts.

In the fall, I do an alcohol wash to determine which hives need treatment. This year, I'm trying Apiguard, an easy-to-use treatment placed above the brood chamber for two weeks. I'll be monitoring mite boards for any increase in mites, to show the effectiveness of this treatment. It's important for new beekeepers to learn about varroa mites and find a treatment that works. Let's keep our bees safe and strong! 💪🏼🐝

10/04/2023

🐝 Finding my best bee photo for the 4th day of was quite a challenge! My photo album is filled with pictures of my bees and my dog, making it tough to narrow down. I finally settled on this one for its sentimental value.

This photo captures the moment I opened the first nuke the year I started Bud & Bloom. The excitement was palpable as I witnessed a healthy wave of bees buzzing. It was a long-awaited day, with months of box prep and waxing frames, all made possible with the amazing help from and .

Reminiscing about that thrilling day brings back so many memories, and this photo truly encapsulates the essence of it all. 🌼🐝

10/03/2023

Day 3 of and today we're diving into the world of bee tools! While my trusty smoker and hive tool are my go-to essentials, I can't help but appreciate the usefulness of a good bee brush. 🐝✨

A bee brush is a gentle tool with soft bristles that allows you to carefully brush bees off a frame without causing harm. It's a great way to remove bees without any stress or injury. 🌼

I've had my trusty witchy bee brush from for years, but it's definitely showing signs of wear and tear. 🧹 Does anyone know where I can find some high-quality, natural brooms like this? I'd love to replace my old one with a new, similarly sustainable option. ♻️

Let's keep the conversation buzzing! I’d love to know your favorite bee tools and any recommendations for finding more bee brushes. 🌿🐝