The Secret Life of Bees: Discover the Buzz at Nemacolin

Imagine standing in the warmth of a sun-dappled meadow, surrounded by the gentle hum of honeybees at work. You’re not merely observing from a distance, you’re ready to step into a world of quiet coordination, sacred rituals, and golden reward.

Welcome to Beekeeping Basics at Nemacolin, where a journey through the art of apiculture offers far more than honey. It delivers insight, connection, and a new appreciation for the marvels of nature.

A Glimpse Inside the Hive

When you arrive at Nemacolin’s apiary — home to 20 thriving beehives — you’re stepping into a sanctuary where tens of thousands of honeybees are living, working, and creating in perfect synergy. Each hive contains approximately 20 to 30 frames, and at the height of the season, a single box may house more than 50,000 bees. From the outside, the wooden hives seem still with just a bit of flying action near the bottom … but lift the lid, and a hustling, bustling city is revealed.

What you might find most surprising is how the hive operates. The social structure is a matriarchy. Most of the bees in a hive are female, including the worker bees who live just three to four weeks in the summer, yet accomplish astonishing feats in such a short timeframe. They forage, feed larvae, build wax hexagons, regulate hive temperature, and even communicate through an intricate dance language paired with pheromones.

The queen, meanwhile, lives for up to three years and is capable of laying 2,000 eggs per day. She’s fed exclusively on royal jelly, a protein-rich secretion that not only nourishes her but also determines her status, as any female larva fed royal jelly past day three has the chance to become a queen. But it’s not always a peaceful reign: If workers sense weakness or overpopulation, they begin raising new queens in swarm cells. The first to hatch must defeat her rivals in a dramatic duel for the throne.

And the drones? These few males live for one purpose: mating. Once they’ve completed this mission, their lives swiftly end.

The Art of Gathering

One of the most delightful discoveries you’ll make in the class is how bees choose between collecting nectar and pollen — and why it matters. Pollen-seeking bees, often found on sunflowers and zinnias, collect bright yellow granules on their legs. Nectar-seeking bees, drawn to trees like locusts and flowers like milkweed and coneflowers, sip sweet liquid with their long tongues.

As they travel within a five-mile radius, bees contribute to a unique signature in every drop of Nemacolin honey. Spring honey tends to be pale and floral, summer’s is warm and amber-hued, while fall’s varietal deepens into a rich, molasses-like tone. Each is a tasting note in a larger symphony of seasonal expression.

A Natural Alchemy

It’s easy to fall in love with the end result of a gleaming jar of golden nectar, but witnessing the behind-the-scenes process is nothing short of alchemy. Bees fan their wings to ventilate the hive, maintaining an ideal internal temperature of 93 degrees year-round. They use propolis — a sticky resin gathered from trees — to seal cracks and keep the hive sterile.

When honey is harvested, a moment of reverence is experienced by the collectors. You’ll hear how the frames are uncapped and spun, how the honey is strained, and why each batch from Nemacolin tastes so different, even within the same season.

Take Home More Than Honey

By participating in this immersive class, you”ll leave with a newfound admiration for bees and an understanding of how to support sustainable beekeeping and environmental education through Nemacolin’s partnership with Youth Bee Works, a 501(c)(3) organization. The resort’s collaboration with this nonprofit group helps to preserve the health of local pollinators and fund initiatives that introduce future generations to the magic of the hive.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a culinary enthusiast, or simply curious, Beekeeping Basics invites you to trade passive observation for full sensory discovery. You’ll taste honey straight from the comb, you’ll see the bees in action, and you’ll understand the true meaning of being as “busy as a bee.”

Before departing, take home a jar from each season, while supplies last, to use in your tea, butter boards, charcuterie displays, seasonal mocktails, at-home recipes, or to give as gifts. Honey from the Nemacolin Apiary is available year-round at The Patisserie, where seasonal harvests are noted on the labels of this sweet deliciousness. You can have a jar or two on-hand in your private home or estate getaway by ordering in advance from The Market, too.

Ready to Get Buzzed?

Classes are seasonal and space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot early. Whether you arrive solo or with a companion, this is one of those rare experiences where you leave richer — not only in knowledge but in wonder. And as you savor a spoonful of Nemacolin honey back home, you’ll know exactly where it came from with a new understanding of the extraordinary community of queens, workers, and drones that made it possible.

Contact a Resort Reservations Specialist at 877.783.5964 to reserve your dates and where to stay, or plan your itinerary with the Experience Team at 855.421.1405, available to assist you with dining, spa, or activity reservations, and personalized family recommendations.