We are delighted to introduce a new series, From the Hive, where each season we will offer a glimpse into the world of the bees and explore how their natural rhythms can inspire us to align with the changing seasons.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Peter Moskovits, founder and expert beekeeper of Honey by the Bay, to uncover the quiet magic happening within the hive. Bees, ever-attuned to nature’s subtle shifts, instinctively sense when the season turns no matter their climate. After a summer of abundance, indulging in nature’s full bloom and filling their honeycomb with honey reserves, the hive begins to slow down, preserve, and gather. To preserve their stored honey, the bees meticulously seal each honey-filled cell with a thin layer of beeswax to retain its purity and freshness. The queen bee reduces her egg-laying, naturally shrinking the colony to conserve their resources and ensuring there is enough honey to last until spring. As the sun starts to set earlier and the temperature begins to drop, the bees gather closely, huddling together around their honey stores and collectively supporting their queen, reinforcing the strength of their colony.

In many ways, our brilliant bees offer us a reminder that autumn is a season to slow down, preserve and gather together. While we may not retreat entirely like the bees, there is a benefit in embracing their slowed rhythm when we can. That may mean cooking your favorite seasonal recipe to be shared with loved ones or preserving it for the winter, spending the early arriving evenings illuminated by a pure beeswax candle or tuning into your senses as you notice all the ways nature is changing around you on your morning walk. 

However you embrace autumn, may the wisdom of our beloved bees enrich your season ahead.