Honeybees and Beekeeping with Christopher Lewis

Evergreen Garden Club

Minutes for March 17, 2026

Attending: Connie Anderson, Julia Bellinger, Susan Bluhm, Winkie Crigler, Jane Dana, Jane DeCell, Doris Dixon, Fossy Fenwick, Nancy Gorman, Lynn Keith, Sara Maner, Sally Marshall, Colet Mitchel, Lynne Pickard, Donna Roberts, Pam Seldon, Laurene Sherlock, Susie Taylor, Christina Thorley, Ellen Thrasher, Fran Usher, Rosa Wallach 

Welcome: First Vice-President Donna Roberts welcomed participants and introduced presenter Christopher Lewis, Beekeeper and Certified Professional Horticulturist. Chris has been a beekeeper for fifteen years, has five hives in his backyard, and sells honey.

Program: Chris began by explaining that native bees want a perfect pollinator environment. He also mentioned that honeybees will not bother people because they are too busy working. He provided a list of plants that attract and feed native pollinators.

Chris discussed his honeybee operation in detail. He explained where they live and why not to wear black clothes when working with them (they often think you are a bear). He also explained the variety of ways they flutter and dance different signals and pheromones they give off. The worker bees do a “bee dance” or waggle which tells other worker bees where the pollinator flowers are.  Their waggle acts as a GPS for their colleagues.

Queen bees can lay 2000 eggs per day or 50,000 eggs per year. The worker bees only live about 40 days, and the male “drones” do not do anything except reproduce. Maryland’s most important nectar source is the black locust tree. One of the beekeeper’s greatest concerns is having the bees “swarm” or all fly away, which usually happens in April. This is usually caused by the bees running out of space. Another concern is mites. Mites kill bees by causing poor nutrition and loss of habitat. In 2000 there was an influx of mites and viruses which greatly diminished the bee population. Chris had a wealth of information and provided an excellent overview of beekeeping in Maryland.

Business Meeting:   President Ellen Thrasher thanked Doris Dixon for hosting the meeting and Doris let everyone know that there would be honey tasting after the business meeting. The minutes from the February meeting were seconded and approved.

Winkie Crigler, Treasurer: As of today, we have $14,062.30 in our account. I am very happy to report that all members have paid their dues. We are on track to spend at least $4,000 in gifts/grants again this year, depending on the results of our philanthropy discussion later this meeting, and we have a healthy balance in the account so that we can make an additional75^th anniversary gift of $7,500 in 2028. Motions on the treasurer’s report were duly seconded and approved. 

Rosa Wallach, Membership Chair, updated us on the unanimous approval of the officers for 2026-2027 President Ellen Thrasher, First Vice President Doris Roberts, Second Vice President Ann Reid, Corresponding Secretary Julia Bellinger and Recording Secretary Jane Nassim as well as the two new members, Chris Mickey and Maureen Slowinski. One member Sharon Stoliaroff recently resigned so there is a vacancy for a fall nomination. Motions on the membership report were duly seconded and approved.

First Vice-President Donna Roberts discussed the survey monkey related to the April field trip to Oak Spring Garden. Less than 50% filled it out so she circulated a document to fill out by hand at the meeting to let her know who was planning on attending and who could drive. She also discussed lunch options.

President Ellen Thrasher announced that the Philanthropy Committee had a plan and possible changes to the budget for the 75th anniversary celebration. Treasurer Winkie Crigler explained the current budget plans as they relate to the celebration.

Jane Dana, Chair of the Philanthropy Committee, said that the Committee wants to celebrate the 75^th anniversary in a more outward facing manner and the Committee members support a bigger gift for the celebration. She discussed an internal fundraising campaign done by the Committee. Some possibilities might be members giving $1000 over three years or matching the dues. The increased money would be used to make a greater impact on the community. It was decided that further discussion of this idea is needed and it would likely take place at the May meeting.

Ellen thanked all participants and the business meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Julia Bellinger, Corresponding Secretary