Warmer temperatures are finally returning to Philadelphia, and while many people are enjoying flowers, walks, and ice cream, local beekeepers say spring signals something even bigger — the return of the bees.
For Temple University alumna Amelia Mraz, the season marks the reopening of her hives. “It’s a really exciting time that we get to open up the hives again,” Mraz said.
Mraz discovered beekeeping while taking a class at Temple and quickly fell in love with the practice. “I signed up for it, took it, and ended up falling in love with it,” she said. She now runs Half Mad Honey, a South Philadelphia bee yard that connects beekeeping with mental health and wellness. “I actually took the class when I was at a really low point in my mental health, and it ended up being therapeutic.”
Mraz is joined by Temple master’s student Megan Robertson, who is new to beekeeping but eager to learn. “I’m going into this not knowing anything, and every day I learn something new — it’s fun,” Robertson said. She added that she’s excited to see the results of the research happening at the apiary.
Spring is also a critical time for the bees themselves. After surviving the winter, colonies need food and careful monitoring. Vincent Aloyo, who tends to bees at Temple’s Ambler campus, says the work is essential. “Honeybees, unlike native bees, do not hibernate. So they need food all year round. And if they run out, they’re dead,” Aloyo said.
As temperatures rise and sunlight returns, beekeepers say the season offers a chance to reconnect with nature. “Having more sunlight, warmer days, and being able to reconnect to nature just fills my heart,” Mraz said.
While many students may be thinking about short sleeves and spring outings, for Philadelphia’s beekeepers and their hives, the new season is all about survival and growth.
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