Beekeeper’s Garden

05/19/2026

Another day, another swarm.

I don't even know where they came from. It's not really near my hives

03/26/2026

What should you do if a bee lands on you?

My vote? Nothing.

She'll sit for a few seconds to rest and then go about her business.

02/18/2026

I gifted this to myself. It's a vintage USSR Lomonosov tea cup and saucer. I've wanted one for years. Why? Sorta long story but it'll let you know a little more about me if you care.

Unless you've known me for a long time you might not know that my undergrad degree is in Russian language. I didn't set out to get a degree in Russian, I just loved languages and that one was really hard. I liked the challenge. There was one semester that I was taking Spanish, German, ASL, and Russian. (That's too many, as it turns out.) I ended up with a degree in Russian language and minors in political science and fine arts.

As I was getting close to graduation, I had no idea what I was going to do with such a degree, but had both Peace Corps and US Army paperwork sitting on my desk. Either option could have been great. I was heavily recruited for the DLI and the military track likely would have been my choice had I not made a trip to San Diego to visit a college "friend."

I was given the opportunity to move to San Diego and not think too hard about what was next, so I did. I spent lots of time at the beach, learned to surf...But I wanted to use my language degree.

It just so happened that there was a catalog company based in San Diego called Sovietski Collection. They worked with contacts in Russia and the former Soviet Republic to find Soviet era memorabilia, import it, and sell to collectors here in the US. I was hired into the call center but quickly moved into a way more fun role. I got to talk to our Russian contacts, and they would send samples of the neat stuff (and sometimes really dumb stuff) that they found to see if we wanted to put it into the catalog. I would process and track all of these samples. Things we passed on would be put up for internal sale (I have some very weird stuff still), or would be photographed for inclusion in the catalog. The shipping containers would arrive and we'd warehouse and ship these things to customers.

The Lomonosov porcelain items were my favorites. I collected a bunch of the animal figurines (my USSR stamped tiger is the most valuable) but never got a teacup. Til today.

02/14/2026

I don't post a lot of bee stuff this time of year, and if you know where I live you know why.

Not much for a beekeeper to do during the winter, but there are a few things I try to pay attention to.

Snow in the top of the hive? Totally fine, and it actually provides some insulation. Leave it.

Snow piled up in the entrance and at the back vent space? Remove that. Good airflow is beneficial.

Also, if you haven't checked to see if your bees need feed, now would be the time to do that. If you crack the lid and see bees looking back at you, they need food asap. The cluster won't go back down when it's cold to access honey below them, so placing a few food patties on top of the frames can help prevent a completely preventable loss from starvation.

It was only in the 20s today, but the sun was shining bright and it was a beautiful day to be outside! (Yes, I'm a fan of winter.)

01/30/2026

A gentle reminder to my Buffalo people: spring will come and flowers will return and you will feel better.

In the meantime, go visit if you can. Seeing green and feeling warmth is good for the soul.

01/24/2026

It was a beautiful day for our first Beekeeping class of 2026!

It was below zero outside, so we opted to stay inside for this one. It felt great to be talking about spring and all of the new honeybee colonies that will be calling WNY home this year.

Working with new beekeepers is one of my favorite parts of my job at Masterson's.

We're taking orders now for 2026 honeybee colonies. Act fast and you'll still get last year's pricing! Order online before EOD Sunday when prices will go up.

Questions? Msg me!

01/13/2026

I very rarely put things on sale, but I have a few gift sets left from the holiday shows and would love to see them go home.

All remaining sets are 40% off until they're gone (or I decide otherwise).

Order on the website, choose shipping or local pickup here at the farm.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to you, from me and all of my furry friends!

12/16/2025

This Friday and Saturday! Cross the rest of the names off your holiday shopping list. I'm restocking the infused honeys which make super sweet stocking stuffers!

The last weekend of East Aurora Wonderland ✨ is almost here 🎄✨

Join us on the Roycroft Campus Great Lawn for another festive weekend filled with incredible local makers, artisans, and small businesses! From handcrafted gifts and cozy winter finds to one-of-a-kind treasures you cannot find anywhere else, our Weekend 3 vendors are ready to help you check everyone off your holiday list 🎁🛍️

Beekeeper’s Garden
Bee Spit Meadery
Belly Boy Buffalo
BH Labs
Catering by Marjorie
Earth Child Apothecary
IV Provisions
Marta’s Market - East Aurora
Mystic Hills Brewing
Sweet Minis Buffalo
Thistle Creek Alpacas
The Yardbarkery: All Natural Dog Treats
Weber's Woodworking

Market Hours
Friday, December 19 from 12–8pm
Saturday, December 20 from 10am–8pm

Bring the family, sip something warm ☕🍷, stroll the village huts, and support small businesses from East Aurora and beyond. East Aurora Rotary Club looks forward to welcoming you back for another magical weekend ✨🎶

🎄❄️🎁

12/12/2025

I do love them, but OMG they're making me crazy as I'm last-minute prepping for market weekend.