Tony,

I'm not a beekeeper yet, but hope to be one day too. I notice that you were online just ahead of the hurricane on Saturday. I hope that's the end of them. I see that you have raised Monarchs. So have I, as well as Gulf Frittilaries, Yellow, and Black Spicewings. With subsequent hurricanes I've seen fewer butterflies and I'm not seeing any bees. Most of my garden has been shredded and I only have ground orchids and porter weed flowering currently and one lonely milkweed. I lopped off the last of my fallen Penta yesterday. I hope you get some information on starting up your bees. I really think they and the butterflies are going to need all the help we can give them. You might contact Leu Gardens or your county agent for local bee keepers.

myoneandonly,

Thanks for the reply. Hope you get your bee adventure started successfully and safely.

I dabbled in the monarchs about 2 yrs ago. Had raised quite a few and enjoyed it alot. I found they can eat a ton of plants that I simply could not keep up with, so, they can have what is growing . PLUS, its a real shame to see the whole butterfly like cycle end when a smart lizard is waiting for them to emerge.

Since then, I have been dabbling in hydroponics and growing tomatos as a challenge. Its a good way to pass the time.

Next month I plan on attending a bee museum in Wisconsin. That may be all it takes for me to get into here in town.

Let us all know how you make out. Take pics if you can.

Tony