Sugarberry Slope

Sugarberry Slope Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Sugarberry Slope, Home & Garden Website, 5725 S Hiwassee Road, Choctaw, OK.
(1)

With honey and other bee products gathered from our own apiaries, and jams and jellies, pickles and relishes, made from produce grown free of chemicals, we are committed to a natural lifestyle that helps support Mother Earth.

Sometimes I have to make the case to homeowners that once a tree is hollow and bees move in, the tree will fall eventual...
06/02/2026

Sometimes I have to make the case to homeowners that once a tree is hollow and bees move in, the tree will fall eventually.

But then I named our home place after this once and will defend it “over my dead body.”

There has been nothing at the hummingbird feeders but hummingbirds for three weeks now. This tells us the bees, etc. are...
06/02/2026

There has been nothing at the hummingbird feeders but hummingbirds for three weeks now. This tells us the bees, etc. are getting their food from other sources. The Slope is exploding with color and nectar sources which will flavor this year’s honey.

Unfortunately, the late freeze or early drought (or both) late waste to our dewberry crop. But we are hopeful the blackberries are as plentiful (and juicy) as always. We should be picking mid-June.

Out in the heat of the day on what we were told by a resident is a swarm on the second floor of an apartment building. ...
06/01/2026

Out in the heat of the day on what we were told by a resident is a swarm on the second floor of an apartment building. At first glance, yes. But closer inspection says we may have another situation altogether. What are the clues?

Today’s adventure involves opening this hive in 95 degree weather. We suited up, drank lots of water, checked the zipper...
05/31/2026

Today’s adventure involves opening this hive in 95 degree weather.

We suited up, drank lots of water, checked the zippers then headed outside. Once at the hive we saw all phases of bees and they are making honey.

Way to go ladies.

05/28/2026

Yesterday we received notice of a swarm in the wheel well of a new truck at a local custom truck business. Work on the truck had to be halted until the bees could be moved.

After arrival, we noticed the swarm did not act like a typical swarm. They did not immediately move onto the frame of drawn comb I offered, and some even had pollen in their pants. Once we saw the wax build up, we realized this was not a swarm at all, but a colony of bees thinking life in the wheel well of a new fleet truck was the way to go. We scooped them into the box and soon their behavior indicated their queen was inside and they started entering the box on their own. With rain moving into the area, we eventually had to speed things up and pull out our low powered vacuum. Just a few minutes after completion, the sky opened

Thank you Perfection Truck Parts & Equipment for doing the right thing for these bees.

05/26/2026

We use pine needles in our bee smoker to calm the bees by masking their alarm pheromones and triggering a feeding response. When the hive is smoked, bees cannot communicate a threat, and their instinct is to gorge on honey and are less likely to sting the beekeeper.

We use this same concept when we’re trying to smoke bees from a structure. Smoke in and fat bees start exiting.

Virginia pepperw**d (Lepidium virginicum). Native wild herb.Most see it as just a w**d but it is a vital source of nutri...
05/23/2026

Virginia pepperw**d (Lepidium virginicum). Native wild herb.

Most see it as just a w**d but it is a vital source of nutrients to our tiniest native bees and syrphid flies (enemy to the aphid). It also serves as host to many white butterfly species.

It is non-toxic to pets and humans and is actually highly nutritious. Back before big Pharm, it was used to treat/prevent scurvy due to its high vitamin C content (poor folks didn’t often have access to fresh squeezed orange juice).

The seeds can be ground into a peppery cooking spice. Civil war soldiers used it after spices were unattainable.

It also shows potential as a biofuel.

So…. NOT a w**d after all.

We are so thankful for all the rain this week and how colorful Sugarberry Slope is because of it. While I could do with...
05/22/2026

We are so thankful for all the rain this week and how colorful Sugarberry Slope is because of it. While I could do without all the red mud, I accept it comes with the territory.

We can’t (or shouldn’t) work bees in inclement weather. Cloudy skies and high winds makes the bees cranky and opening the hives while it is damp can chill the brood causing the baby bees to die in their cells.

But, for beekeepers, this is a time of high alert before honey harvest. Even in bad weather conditions, the hives are producing new bees and building comb. If their numbers get too big, the bees take matters into their own hands.

So while we are grateful for all the rainfall, we are also grateful for the break this weekend and the chance to see where things stand.

Happy Memorial Day weekend.

05/20/2026

Welcome Baby Bear Creations of Shawnee, OK. Check out their page and learn about a unique concept in small business.

05/19/2026

This is one of the SugarBerry Hives and the ladies werent’t excited to see us.

Address

5725 S Hiwassee Road
Choctaw, OK

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sugarberry Slope posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category