June arrives, and the constraints of winter finally unwind around me. I begin to feel free. My daily routine shifts with the early sunrise and the long, lingering sunsets. Even the colors in my closet change—where once there were shades of gray, black, dark blue, and brown, now hang clothes in lime green, pastel blue, crisp white, and rosy peach. It’s as if nature and I are shedding winter’s weight together.

This is the month I reconnect with the birds, many returning from their long winter migration.

Food is plentiful in Nebraska now, and so are the materials they use to build their nests. Their feathers are at their brightest, their energy infectious. Birds seem happiest in June—newly arrived, full of vitality, and ready to start families under the wide summer sky.

Photographer Don Brockmeier’s photo of a bluebird fluttering in mid-air expresses the joy of life in June 2025, and his photo inspired the same expression in me.

Spring and the work steps-up for both the beekeepers and the bees. The beekeepers carry out 3 tasks:

1. Spring feeding – Beekeepers feed their bees a sugar syrup until the plums, clover and chokecherry bushes bloom.
2. Medicate for mites – We check each hive to gage if the varroa mite load warrants mediation (and most certainly it does) then medicate the hive to lessen the number of varroa mites.
3. Check queen health – check the health of the queen by noticing the patterns of the sealed brood on the frames. At this time decisions are made concerning replacing the queen. If the hive looks healthy and with plenty of worker bees, sometimes we split this hive, a process involving buying a queen and starting a new hive with her plus several frames of brood and the nurse bees that cling to the frames.. 

A bee hive consists of one queen, drones and thousands of worker bees. Each has a part in the life of the hive. The queen controls the population of the hive, the drones fertilize the future queens in the region, and do nothing to support the work of the hive.

What is a bee’s work? Have you heard anyone say, “Busy as a bee.” The following list of tasks (I’m certain bees do even more than on this list) that bees handle will illustrate the accuracy of this description:

The Work of the Worker Bees

1. Young bees called nurse bees clean cells, feed larvae, construct comb and ripen the nectar.
2.  Later these bees graduate into field bees. They collect nectar and pollen, regulate the hive temperature, forage for water to drink and cool the nest, defend the colony, remove sick or dead bees from the hive, collect sticky plant resins called propolis and place it around the hive to seal small gaps and cover rough surfaces.

I consider beekeeping a lot of work and responsibility yet compared to the day of the average bee, the beekeeper has the short end of this stick.

Happy Mother’s Day! Buzz Savories has designed a gift certain to delight the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and great aunts and all those on your Mother’s Day gift list.

We will pack 2 jars of Buzz Savories local, all-natural and luscious honey plus a honey twizzle stick and an original card by artist, Caylin McCormick with your personal message.  All shipped for $25.00!


Order on our website. Click the SHOP button then scroll to the Buzz Savories Honey 2-pack or click the shop button below. Complete your order as directed then write your message in the Order Notes section. Happy Mother’s Day!

The “What If” series on Nebraska Public Media features Nebraska entrepreneurs and Nebraska stories. The day Mike Tobias at Nebraska Public Media invited me, the entrepreneur of Buzz Savories LLC, to film a Nebraska Public Media ”What If “video production, I felt delighted, and at the same time, I recognized a potential for chaos. I doubted that Mike, the film crew and the “What If” audience have any idea of filming stinging bees living in a colony of 6,000 sisters. I also thought of me blending and packing gallons of Spicy Beer Mustard in the Funk School commercial kitchen with steam rolling out of the processing pans and the hazards embedded in the process. I presented Mike with a few scenarios that may occur, and he calmed my visions of disaster by saying that the film crew would be prepared and were confident of success.

I accepted the opportunity and anticipated their visit to Holdrege, then Elm Creek to meet the bees and lastly Funk School Community Center and the commercial kitchen.

The story begins with extraordinary close-up of bee behavior. The videographer, outfitted in a bee suit, laying on his stomach with a miniature camera, filmed the bees carrying pollen and nectar into the hive for unloading while the sound specialist catches the audio of the bee buzz.

Then to the Funk School Community Center commercial kitchen where viewers will see Mike blending the 9 ingredients of Spicy Beer Mustard with my 30 lb. commercial stick blender, me filling each jar with mustard, and then processing the jars in a boiling water bath and the final step, labeling the jars. The emphasis here is on the work and the processes and seeing the ingredients and the finished product.

The last scene shows me in my home kitchen demonstrating a recipe for the TikTok audience, and you will meet the lovely and skillful videographer, Michelle McCormick. Then hear my brief take on aging.

If any of this interests you, the “What If” video featuring Buzz Savories will show on April 9, 2025 at 9 pm on Nebraska Public Media, or if you are unable to watch the Nebraska Public Media film, check out Buzz Savories on YouTube and see the “What if” film on our YouTube channel. See other videos of me making marvelous eats here.

I appreciate your interest. Betty Anne at Buzz Savories

When you see a honeybee buzzing from flower to flower or a butterfly gracefully landing on a bloom, you’re witnessing nature’s most essential workers in action. Pollinators—like bees, butterflies, moths, and even hummingbirds—are responsible for fertilizing many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we love. In fact, nearly 75% of all flowering plants depend on pollinators!

But these small, hardworking creatures face big challenges, from habitat loss to pesticide exposure. The good news? Whether you have a sprawling backyard or just a few potted plants on a balcony, you can help make a difference! Here are some simple, impactful ways to support pollinators in your own garden and lawn.

1. Plant a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

One of the easiest and most effective ways to support pollinators is by planting flowers rich in nectar and pollen. Opt for native plants—they’re naturally suited to your region and attract local pollinators. Consider:

• Wildflowers like purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, milkweed (especially common, swamp, or butterfly milkweed), prairie clover, and bee balm
• Herbs like lavender, mint, chives, and oregano
• Flowering shrubs like leadplant, New Jersey tea, wild plum, and elderberry

Pro Tip: Choose plants that bloom at different times throughout the season to provide a continuous food source!

2. Ditch the Pesticides
Many pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides harm pollinators, even if they aren’t the intended target. If possible, switch to natural pest control methods like introducing beneficial insects (ladybugs love to eat aphids!) or using neem oil.

3. Provide a Water Source
Just like us, pollinators need water! A shallow dish with stones or a birdbath with fresh water can serve as a much-needed drinking spot. Keep it clean and refill it regularly to keep pollinators coming back.

4. Leave Some Wild Spaces
A perfectly manicured lawn may look nice, but it doesn’t offer much to pollinators. Let a section of your yard grow naturally or plant a small wildflower patch. Even leaving dandelions in early spring provides an important early nectar source for bees!

5. Support Local Beekeepers
Purchasing local, raw honey—like Buzz Savories All Natural & Local Honey—not only treats you to a delicious, pure product, but also supports beekeepers who maintain healthy, thriving hives. When you buy local honey, you’re helping protect honeybee populations and the essential role they play in pollination.

Every little bit helps! Whether you plant a few bee-friendly flowers or switch to natural lawn care, your efforts contribute to a healthier environment for pollinators.

How are you supporting pollinators in your yard? Share your favorite tips! And if you’re looking for the perfect locally sourced honey to sweeten your day, check out Buzz Savories’ local Nebraska Honey and other pollinator-friendly products.

Thank you for your interest in Buzz Savories – our all natural mustards and local honey and the recipes for cooking delicious dishes.

Like you, I also like simple, light, super good flavor and nourishing side dishes, mains and desserts too. May we toast to 2025 and welcome the happiest, finest and most delicious dinners, lunches, snacks, desserts and beverages in the New Year?

Buzz Savories, with a lot of help from me and you, enjoyed a full and successful year of beekeeping, packing our local honey, and making and packing and processing Spicy Beer Mustard and Honey Mustard. Our digital presence was lifted to a glorious new high due to our collaboration with Nebraska Digital —- and I know you’ve notice the many improvements to the web site.

We redesigned the labels on the honey, Honey Mustard and Spicy Beer Mustard jars, and blended, packed, processed and sold 1,560 jars of our products! Whew! Among my new loves in life is demonstrating a recipe with Buzz Savories products for The Good Life TV audience and TikTok viewers. I thank Michelle McCormick for promoting Buzz Savories on Tik Tok with short videos of me cooking a Buzz Savories recipe or speaking about pollinator plants and beekeeping. I also appreciate the Nebraska Public Media, “What If” video and story concerning me and Buzz Savories.

I’m anticipating the adventures to come in 2025, and all is more fun when we are in this together.

These are the Top 4 Recipes that you, the readers and makers liked in 2024:

• Rustic Summer Tomato Tart
• Corned Beef Sliders
• Chicken Pot-Pie in a Black Iron Skillet
• Charcuterie Made Simple with Ham & Cheese Sliders

We feel a happy “Buzz” planning culinary experiences for you and your friends and family in the New Year. We will celebrate the wonder and joy of the year to come! Join me!

This holiday season, avoid the gifting stress and find something unique for everyone on your list with Buzz Savories’ all natural and all Nebraska gift boxes. Perfect for those who love bold, natural flavors and eco-friendly goods, our gift boxes feature hand-packed, local honey, mustards, and other artisanal items for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.

This year, we’ve added a new twist: Customize Your Own Box, where you hand-select items for a gift curated by you. 

Gift Box Options for Every Taste

• Spicy and Sweet Gift Set: A fan-favorite combo of local honey, Spicy Beer Mustard, and Honey Mustard, complete with a handmade woodgrain beeswax candle, wood coaster, and our “Recibees” booklet filled with ideas for using these gourmet treats.
• Honey Lovers Gift Set: Perfect for the honey lover, this set includes two jars of pure, locally harvested honey, a set of beeswax candles, a honey twizzle stick, and pollinator seeds—a gift that gives back to nature.
• New! Customize Your Own Gift Box: For a gift as unique as its recipient, our “Customize Your Own” box allows you to select from our full line of handcrafted honey, mustards, and beeswax candles, coasters, candle snuffer, twizzle stick, all packaged sustainably and shipped by Buzz Savories for your convenience.

Buzz Savories is committed to premium, eco-friendly products that showcase the best local flavors. Each gift is an experience designed to bring joy, warmth, and a memorable touch of Nebraska flavors.

Make this holiday season a simple pleasure for you and a delight for the receiver!

As the crisp air of autumn settles in, many of us are tempted to grab our rakes and clean up the fallen leaves that blanket our lawns. While a tidy yard may seem appealing, leaving those leaves in place can play a critical role in helping pollinators and other insects survive the winter—and ultimately benefit our ecosystems.

Leaves Are a Lifeline for Insects

Pollinators, such as butterflies, moths, and bees, rely on leaf litter as part of their life cycle. Insects like the luna moth and certain species of butterflies overwinter as pupae in the protection of fallen leaves. When we rake and bag up leaves, we’re often unknowingly disrupting this natural habitat, potentially killing the very pollinators that help our flowers bloom and our gardens thrive come spring.
By leaving leaves on the ground, you create a safe, insulated environment for these insects to hibernate and emerge in warmer weather, ready to do their important work.

Why Pollinators Matter
Pollinators are essential to our ecosystem, playing a key role in reproducing over 75% of flowering plants, including many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we rely on for food. Without them, many of the crops and wildflowers we enjoy would not thrive. Supporting their survival during the winter months is crucial to maintaining healthy ecosystems and food sources.

The Hidden Benefits for Your Yard
In addition to providing a habitat for pollinators, leaving leaves in your yard offers several environmental benefits. As leaves decompose, they enrich the soil with nutrients, promoting healthier lawns and gardens in the long run. They also act as a natural mulch, retaining moisture and suppressing weeds, which means less maintenance for you and a more sustainable, eco-friendly landscape.

A Small Change, A Big Impact
By choosing to leave your leaves—or at least reduce how many you rake—you’re making a positive impact on your local ecosystem. Pollinators and insects play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, and their survival depends on the choices we make in our own backyards. This fall, consider embracing a more natural approach to yard care and know that by doing so, you’re helping to protect the delicate balance of nature.

Let the leaves lie, and let life thrive.
This small, simple shift in how we think about fall cleanup can have a lasting effect on the insects that sustain our environment. Together, we can help pollinators survive the winter and continue their vital role in keeping our ecosystems flourishing.