The Fountain Hills Community Garden has a new partnership with Audra Waddle of AZ Queen Bee to bring in and manage two garden bee hives to help the garden thrive.

The colony will come from relocating a queen bee.

“When bees are on someone’s property, I collect and give them a new loving home,” Waddle said. “Once they are settled in and adjusted to their new surroundings, the re-queening process begins on my side.”

She will find their feral queen and replace her with a new Italian queen.

“The genetics of the Italian variety is much more gentle than our typical feral AZ genetics,” wrote Waddle in the garden’s December newsletter.

The life span of a worker bee is four to six weeks. In about two months after she re-queens a feral colony, the disposition will completely change due to the new bees that arrive.

Expanded beds

Currently 32 beds out of 60 in Phase 2 have been rented. Bed rental covers one year and three growing seasons.

The garden beds are 4 by 10 feet and constructed of redwood. They are equipped with drip water supplies, timer, shade cloth and metal supports and organic soil.

The rental price is $250 annually. There is a $50 premium for a 24-inches high bed. One membership is included with each garden bed rental.

Membership agreement and renter forms can be accessed at the garden’s website, fhcultural-civic.org/community-garden

Future events

*Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 6. Work will continue on Phase 2 beds with time for gardeners to install their irrigation system.

*Garden Social, 5 to 6 p.m., Jan. 10; meet other gardeners to discuss tips and successes. Open to the public.

* Chocolate and Music, 3 to 5 p.m., Chocofin will provide the chocolates. A silent auction will be offered. Open to the public.

*Volunteer Work Day, 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 27. Amend the soil for the next growing season, install remaining irrigation systems and perform general maintenance chores.

Garden volunteers

If you choose not to rent an individual bed, you can still become a member for $10 and help with activities in the garden, which include maintenance, weeding, tours, garden classes and communal bed gardening.