New Observation Hive Creates a Buzz

MCH has some new residents, and they are buzzing with energy.

Executive Chef Matt Zodarecky, who is also an experienced beekeeper, has helped bring an observation hive to residents with the support of the MCH Auxiliary and Facility Department. The hive was installed in the Serendipity Room on Faith 4 Center, where it can now be safely viewed by staff, residents, and visitors.

MCH hosted an opening event on Sept. 15 with residents and staff to introduce the hive and the thousands of winged workers. Guests had the chance to safety view the bees up close, learn about their roles inside the colony, and hear directly from Zodarecky about the process of caring for them.

Zodarecky described the bees as “nature’s most fascinating workers” and emphasized that the hive is secure, allowing visitors to watch without worry of bees flying loose.

The observation hive currently houses an estimated 10,000 bees, although colonies can grow significantly larger over time.

Zodarecky said bees progress through a series of jobs in their short lifespans, starting as cleaners, then feeding larvae, and eventually becoming foragers who gather nectar and pollen. Visitors may also catch sight of the waggle dance, a unique way bees communicate directions to food sources.

About 5 gallons of honey, providing from a hive outside of the facility, has been jarred and made available for purchase by the MCH Auxiliary in the Tapestry Gift Shop. Proceeds will support ongoing programming and the care of the hive itself.

Observation hours will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, providing a daily window for residents and families to view a bit of nature inside

MCH.