Bee-Blog

Through the year with the beekeeper – getting ready for winter in August!

The Beekeeper's Year: What to do when to care for your bees and harvest the best honey. Together with Hektar Nektar, we support beekeeper Abi and accompany him and his bees throughout the year. Hektar Nektar has launched PROJECT 2028 with the goal of increasing the bee population in Germany and Austria by 10% between 2018 and 2028, actively countering bee mortality – a project ARCOTEL Hotels has supported for the second time in 2021 thanks to the help of our guests!

August: Preparing for winter and combating the varroa mite

As early as August, the beekeeper begins preparing the colony for winter. The final honey harvest of the year takes place at the end of July. After that, preparations begin to ensure the bees survive the cold months. This includes "feeding" the bees, so they can build up sufficient food reserves. The quantity is key – too little food and they may starve; too much, and the brood nest may be constricted, reducing the colony’s size and weakening it before winter. The second major task in August is beginning the treatment against Varroa mites – one of the greatest threats to honeybees in Europe. These mites feed on the bee's nutrient-rich body fluids, effectively killing them. A beehive offers perfect conditions for them to multiply. Beekeepers use a range of methods to combat this pest: from conventional approaches like applying formic acid to more natural alternatives. Organic beekeeper Roland Heinzle, with support from ARCOTEL, launched a project to introduce book scorpions into the hive. These natural predators hunt and kill Varroa mites and other parasites – offering a pesticide-free solution. We’re excited to see the findings of this innovative project!

June: Honey Harvest and new colonies

June is when the bee colony reaches its peak development. The feeding conditions change: most fruit trees and cultivated plants such as rapeseed have already bloomed, making way for more subtle wild shrubs that now provide food for the bees. Colonies located near forest edges find plenty of nourishment from wild raspberries, blackberries and various herbs. Linden trees, whose blossom begins in early June and lasts 6–8 weeks, are among the most important nectar sources for bees. In cities with linden-lined avenues, you can spot plenty of bees gathering pollen and nectar. Bees also collect honeydew, a sticky, sugary substance secreted by aphids on the linden leaves. Inside the hive, a surplus of bees starts to build. When space, air or brood frames become scarce, the colony may swarm. About half of the bees will leave with the queen, while the remaining bees stay behind, raise a new queen, and continue the cycle. To prevent this natural division from going unnoticed and losing bees, beekeepers can either intentionally split the colony by relocating half the bees into a new hive or harvest honey frames, thereby providing more space and work for the bees.

The best Tips and Tricks for a bee-friendly balcony – Part I

In our last post, we shared some useful tips for creating a bee-friendly garden. But what if you live in the city and only have a small balcony or even just a windowsill? Don’t worry – there’s still plenty you can do to support bee habitats.

Many herbs and ornamental plants that provide nectar and pollen for bees can be grown in pots on a balcony. It’s important to consider the specific conditions of your balcony and choose your plants accordingly. A sunny south-facing balcony is ideal for nasturtiums, marguerites, fan flowers, marigolds or fragrant plants like lavender or heliotrope. Mint, lemon balm or chives, on the other hand, prefer shady spots. To make the most of limited space, hanging pots are a great solution – bright yellow Sanvitalia, for example, thrive in them. Timing also plays a key role: balcony planting typically starts after the Ice Saints (11–15 May), when night frost is no longer a threat and temperatures stay consistently mild. If you love a splash of colour, try planting a mini “wildflower meadow in a pot”. Special seed mixes for beneficial insects also grow well on balconies and transform small spaces into vibrant, summery bee havens. Visually stunning and a veritable buffet for bees! You can pick up our seed mix in the Bee Shop or at any of our hotels.

Aspiring chefs can also share their balcony-grown herbs with the bees: simply avoid trimming them completely and allow some to flower. Plants like geraniums, petunias or double-flowered varieties offer little benefit to bees – they may smell enticing but provide no nourishment. Basic nesting aids can be easily installed on balconies and are especially valuable for wild bees. Add a small bee watering station, and your bee-friendly balcony is complete!

The Bee Pavilion by ARCOTEL Hotels and bee support

One of the longest-standing partners of our sustainability initiative Give Bees A Chance is organic beekeeper Roland Heinzle and his organisation Bee Support.

There’s plenty to discover at the Bee Park in Klein-Pöchlarn, located right on the Danube Cycle Path! This lovingly designed educational experience offers fascinating insights into the world of honeybees and their hives. Visitors will find detailed information on bee-friendly plants, wild bee nesting aids, a picnic area with a tasting garden, and info panels for self-guided tours.

At the heart of the Bee Park stands the Bee Pavilion, built in collaboration with ARCOTEL Hotels and opened in 2018. It serves as a hub for bee protection and public awareness. More than 20 informational and interactive honeycomb stations – lower ones for children, upper ones for adults – present curious facts and educational content about bee life. Did you know that the familiar buzzing of a bee comes from 250 wing beats per second? Or that a bee can pull 350 times its own body weight across a flat surface? Or that a queen bee only ever leaves the hive once – for her mating flight?

These hexagonal stations are not only illustrated but also offer experiences through touch, smell and sound. Some are even movable or fully interactive. The exhibits explore the life and role of honeybees, their pollination performance and products, the history of beekeeping, the causes of bee population decline, and how it affects our ecosystem. We highly recommend seeing it for yourself – join a guided tour to explore the Bee Park and Pavilion.

Top Tips for a bee-friendly garden – Part 1

The destruction of natural habitats and a lack of food plants are among the greatest threats to bees. Monoculture farming is a key problem, but even in many private gardens, bees find little to feed on. Here are some practical tips to help you turn your garden into a bee haven: Wildflower Meadow Instead of a Lawn.

Our first tip is easy to implement: simply leave part of your lawn unmown to grow into a colourful wildflower meadow. Even plants often dismissed as “weeds” can grow and provide vital food for bees. Over time, these untouched areas develop a wonderful diversity of native flora. You can also lend a helping hand by sowing special bee-friendly seed mixes. Our seed sachets are available in our Bee Shop or can be picked up for free at our hotels!

Herb and fruit corner for bees
Lavender, rosemary, oregano, sage, mint or thyme – bees adore herbs, especially when they’re in bloom! Whether planted in garden beds, growing wild or in pots, it’s crucial to use untreated plants. Fruit trees such as apple, cherry and apricot, or berry bushes like blackberry, are also excellent for bees. Variety is key!
Creating habitats for wild bees
Wild bees are struggling due to the loss of natural nesting places. A bit of “tidy chaos” in the garden can help – leave a patch of deadwood, a wild hedge or even a small sand pile to offer essential habitats.
Bee watering station
As summers grow hotter, bees need water too! A shallow bowl filled with stones or a flowerpot tray with a bit of water helps our busy pollinators stay hydrated.
Use natural fertilisers
Did you know you can fertilise using herbs or teas? Wormwood tea is great against aphids, and organic coffee grounds are a popular natural fertiliser. Avoiding chemicals helps bees thrive.

If you meet all the criteria for a bee-friendly garden, you can have it certified as a “Bee Protection Garden” through ARCOTEL Hotels’ long-standing partner organisation.

The Beekeeper’s Year – Welcome to the joyful month of May!

The beekeeper’s calendar: What needs doing when, to keep bees healthy and ensure the best honey harvest? Together with Hektar Nektar, we’re supporting beekeeper Abi and following his journey throughout the year. Hektar Nektar aims to increase the bee population in Germany and Austria by 10% between 2018 and 2028 with PROJECT 2028, actively combating bee decline – a project ARCOTEL Hotels proudly supported for the second time in 2021, with the help of our guests.

May – often called “the month of bees” – marks a turning point. After a long, cold winter and an unpredictable April, temperatures finally stabilise at comfortable double-digit daytime values. Nature bursts into life, with greenery and blossoms everywhere – from dandelions to apple trees and flowering shrubs. These aren’t just a visual delight for us; they’re also a crucial food source for bees. The workers gather nectar and pollen, the colony grows – and soon, space in the hive runs low.

To understand what happens next, it helps to look inside a beehive: inside are wooden frames, and the gaps between them are called “bee spaces”. Bees build their honeycombs on these frames – the outer ones for food, the central ones for brood. The beekeeper’s task is to ensure the bees always have enough room. When all bee spaces are full, it’s time to add the so-called “honey super” to the hive. A common rule of thumb is to do this around cherry blossom time – but factors such as weather, colony strength and food availability also matter.

Beekeepers often insert a queen excluder between the brood chamber and the honey super. This prevents the queen from entering the honey area and laying eggs there, making harvesting much easier. And soon, it will be time for the first honey harvest...