Summer Ready: Setting Goals, Working Splits, and Staying Ahead of the Bees
May 6 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Spring is winding down and summer is just around the corner — which means your bees are thinking about one thing: expansion. Are you ready to keep up with them?
This month, we’re welcoming guest speaker Karla, who will help us shift our beekeeping mindset from survival mode to strategy. As colonies hit their peak, the decisions you make right now will shape your whole season. Whether you’re chasing a honey harvest, looking to grow your apiary through splits, or just trying to keep your hives healthy and calm, Karla will walk us through how to think it all through.
She’ll cover:
- How to re-evaluate your beekeeping goals heading into summer — and why it matters to have a plan
- The honey-or-splits question: how to decide what your hive (and you) actually need
- Getting ahead of Varroa before mite loads climb and your options shrink
- Checkerboarding as a swarm management and honey production tool
- How to read your frames to know exactly what’s going on inside the hive
Whether you’re heading into your first summer or your fifteenth, there’s something here for every beekeeper.
Santa Cruz Beekeepers Guild
May 2026
Parking Instructions
Parking inside El Rio Mobile Home Park is prohibited.
- Metered street parking is available.
- Use the Lenz Arts lot, but avoid the ivy wall/gate with “no parking” signs for after-hours staff access.
Volunteer-Run, Community-Funded, No Dues Required | Your Donations Keep Us Buzzing

