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SHELLY

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[quote="DuneLaker, post: 531846"]Noticed a lot of bees in the yard today.  Hoovering close to the ground.  Anyone else notice?  I hope this is a good sign.  Plan on going over to Wewahitchka (WeWa) around early May to take in the honey festival.  Are there different types of bees around here?  The ones in my yard today don't bother me, but they do spook my low to the ground mini-wiener dog.[/quote]

They've arrived to pick up their $150 Million Stimulus for Honeybee Insurance!!

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<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="DuneLaker">Noticed a lot of bees in the yard today. Hoovering close to the ground. Anyone else notice? I hope this is a good sign. Plan on going over to Wewahitchka (WeWa) around early May to take in the honey festival. Are there different types of bees around here? The ones in my yard today don&#039;t bother me, but they do spook my low to the ground mini-wiener dog.</blockquote> 
They&#039;ve arrived to pick up their $150 Million Stimulus for Honeybee Insurance!! 
 
.

2bohemians

Beach Fanatic

[quote="DuneLaker, post: 531846"]Noticed a lot of bees in the yard today.  Hoovering close to the ground.  Anyone else notice?  I hope this is a good sign.  Plan on going over to Wewahitchka (WeWa) around early May to take in the honey festival.  Are there different types of bees around here?  The ones in my yard today don't bother me, but they do spook my low to the ground mini-wiener dog.[/quote]

Bee :lol: careful with those bees and your dog. Our dog was stung by one of those low to the ground ones earlier this year and it wasn't pretty. You may want to make sure you have some Benadryl around just in case.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="DuneLaker">Noticed a lot of bees in the yard today. Hoovering close to the ground. Anyone else notice? I hope this is a good sign. Plan on going over to Wewahitchka (WeWa) around early May to take in the honey festival. Are there different types of bees around here? The ones in my yard today don&#039;t bother me, but they do spook my low to the ground mini-wiener dog.</blockquote> 
Bee :lol: careful with those bees and your dog. Our dog was stung by one of those low to the ground ones earlier this year and it wasn&#039;t pretty. You may want to make sure you have some Benadryl around just in case.

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert

There are bees swarming all over my yard too!  Now I have an excuse to skip yard work!:clap:

grammyc

Beach Comber

I have a new Sun Fusion FJ toyota (the color of:floor:) and I swear VERY large bees are swarming it! This is in Fairhope, but still on the coast.  I don't as a rule try to disturb nature, but when they hang out on my windows all the way into the garage, somethings got to give! Not ME:biggrin: I'm also hoping its a sign of spring! We put up the purple martin houses, just in case!

I have a new Sun Fusion FJ toyota (the color of:floor:) and I swear VERY large bees are swarming it! This is in Fairhope, but still on the coast.  I don&#039;t as a rule try to disturb nature, but when they hang out on my windows all the way into the garage, somethings got to give! Not ME😀 I&#039;m also hoping its a sign of spring! We put up the purple martin houses, just in case!

Miss Critter

I'm glad the bees are back. Their importance is grossly underestimated. 
 
Dunelaker, please tell us about the honey festival.

I&#039;m glad the bees are back. Their importance is grossly underestimated. 
 
Dunelaker, please tell us about the honey festival.

DuneLaker

[quote="MissCritter, post: 532076"]I'm glad the bees are back. Their importance is grossly underestimated. 
 
Dunelaker, please tell us about the honey festival.[/quote]
 
Do check current information by searching for Tupelo Honey and Wewahitchka
 
The honey festival is usually the third week in May in Wewahitchka (called WeWa by locals).  The Tupelo Gum tree grows in Northwest Florida, especially around the Apalachicola River.  WeWa is about a two hour drive from SoWal.  You head east on Highway 98 through Panama City.  Someone may have short cut suggestions.  You could do a day trip, or if you want to stay overnight would suggest you book early as this is very popular.  An alternate overnight might be Apalachicola or Cape San Blas.  Maybe try out WindMark in Port St. Joe.  Fabulous local honey.  Always a treat to buy and receive as a gift.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="MissCritter">I&#039;m glad the bees are back. Their importance is grossly underestimated. 
 
Dunelaker, please tell us about the honey festival.</blockquote> 
Do check current information by searching for Tupelo Honey and Wewahitchka 
 
The honey festival is usually the third week in May in Wewahitchka (called WeWa by locals). The Tupelo Gum tree grows in Northwest Florida, especially around the Apalachicola River. WeWa is about a two hour drive from SoWal. You head east on Highway 98 through Panama City. Someone may have short cut suggestions. You could do a day trip, or if you want to stay overnight would suggest you book early as this is very popular. An alternate overnight might be Apalachicola or Cape San Blas. Maybe try out WindMark in Port St. Joe. Fabulous local honey. Always a treat to buy and receive as a gift.

passin thru

Careful around ground level bees .... if they're small, and going in & out of the ground, it could be a swarm of ground-nesting yellowjackets. They'll generally go about their own business, until you or a pet disturbs them, and then they're agressive, stinging MFers.

Careful around ground level bees .... if they&#039;re small, and going in &amp; out of the ground, it could be a swarm of ground-nesting yellowjackets. They&#039;ll generally go about their own business, until you or a pet disturbs them, and then they&#039;re agressive, stinging MFers.

beachwanabe

Beach Lover

Yellowjacket nests are very easy to detect by simply keeping your eyes out in the suspected area.  I found out after I got stung last year (luckily only once) while mowing the lawn.  In this case there was a hole in the ground the size of a quarter, they exit as soon as the sun comes out and warms up. You can't miss the hundreds of yellowjackets going in and out, pretty inpressive, yet scary.   

Honey bees look a lot different, are less aggressive, everyone should do their homework on the internet to see the differences especially if they have dogs or small children in the area.

Yellowjacket nests are very easy to detect by simply keeping your eyes out in the suspected area. I found out after I got stung last year (luckily only once) while mowing the lawn. In this case there was a hole in the ground the size of a quarter, they exit as soon as the sun comes out and warms up. You can&#039;t miss the hundreds of yellowjackets going in and out, pretty inpressive, yet scary. 
 
Honey bees look a lot different, are less aggressive, everyone should do their homework on the internet to see the differences especially if they have dogs or small children in the area.

cooper

anywhere close to 30-a to purchase locally harvested honey (and recommended labels)?

Smiling JOe

Cooper, go to For the Health of It,  in Blue Mtn Beach ([url=http://www.shopforthehealthofit.com]For The Health Of It - Blue Mountain Beach Store[/url]), to get some local honey, produced by the Barrett family. Yummy! It is crazy-good. You probably see their bee boxes in the Pt Washington State Forest around here. It is South Walton honey, not WeWa.  Most other honey found in stores around here is shipped in from all over the USA, and taste totally different. Also, if you have bad tree and plant allergies, eating very local honey, is a good way to build up your immune system.

Cooper, go to For the Health of It, in Blue Mtn Beach (<a href="http://www.shopforthehealthofit.com" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">For The Health Of It - Blue Mountain Beach Store</a>), to get some local honey, produced by the Barrett family. Yummy! It is crazy-good. You probably see their bee boxes in the Pt Washington State Forest around here. It is South Walton honey, not WeWa. Most other honey found in stores around here is shipped in from all over the USA, and taste totally different. Also, if you have bad tree and plant allergies, eating very local honey, is a good way to build up your immune system.

SJ: thanks so much.  can't wait to pick some up in a few weeks when we return to our "real home".  I've heard much of the help in allergy control, so I might say I'll enjoy it for medicinal purposes, but really just putting it on a biscuit and tasting the local flora will be terrific. thanks again.

SJ: thanks so much.  can&#039;t wait to pick some up in a few weeks when we return to our &quot;real home&quot;.  I&#039;ve heard much of the help in allergy control, so I might say I&#039;ll enjoy it for medicinal purposes, but really just putting it on a biscuit and tasting the local flora will be terrific. thanks again.

Noticed a lot of bees in the yard today.  Hoovering close to the ground.  Anyone else notice?  I hope this is a good sign.  Plan on going over to Wewahitchka (WeWa) around early May to take in the honey festival.  Are there different types of bees around here?  The ones in my yard today don't bother me, but they do spook my low to the ground mini-wiener dog.

Noticed a lot of bees in the yard today.  Hoovering close to the ground.  Anyone else notice?  I hope this is a good sign.  Plan on going over to Wewahitchka (WeWa) around early May to take in the honey festival.  Are there different types of bees around here?  The ones in my yard today don&#039;t bother me, but they do spook my low to the ground mini-wiener dog.

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Bees are back

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2026 SoWal Sea Turtle Nesting Season Wrapup

After Hurricane Isaias: Photos of South Walton Beaches

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Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026