WHITE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — Ten colonies of honeybees are temporarily calling the grounds of the Warren County Wayne Dumont Jr. Administration Building home after a local beekeeper noticed an unusual late-summer bloom of flowering trees along Route 519.
Knowlton Township beekeeper Tom Ozden said the idea began last summer while he was transporting bee colonies to and from the Warren County Farmers’ Fair.
“That’s a lot of blooms in such a short span,” Ozden recalled saying to his wife, Faith. “Imagine if we could get bees over there.”
With his wife’s encouragement, Ozden later contacted Warren County, which welcomed the temporary placement of a flatbed trailer carrying 10 honeybee colonies on the administration building property. The site also features a pollinator garden designed to provide food and habitat for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
County Commissioner James R. Kern III and County Administrator Alex J. Lazorisak recently toured the hives with Ozden. Kern, who led Warren County’s effort to become the first county in New Jersey certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, also showed Ozden the nearby pollinator garden, where honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies and other insects were actively feeding.
The visit coincided with World Nature Conservation Day on July 28, which promotes awareness of protecting natural resources.
“Protecting bees is an important part of protecting all pollinators. They play a vital role in supporting our farms, strengthening our food supply, and maintaining the healthy ecosystems that make Warren County so special,” Kern said. “As New Jersey’s first National Wildlife Federation-certified Community Wildlife Habitat county, we’re proud to support efforts that help pollinators thrive and preserve our natural resources for future generations.”
Ozden said the bees are feeding on the fragrant white blossoms of Japanese pagoda trees, also known as Chinese scholar trees, which bloom later in the season than many other flowering trees.
The trailer, surrounded by a temporary electric fence to discourage bears from raiding the hives for honey, will remain on the county property for three to four weeks before moving to another location. Ozden maintains about 200 hives on his property and at farms throughout the region. Each hive can contain between 10,000 and more than 60,000 bees.
Reflecting on the insects’ behavior, Ozden said, “they always do what is best for the colony. They never do what’s best for the individual.”
County officials said the temporary hive installation reflects Warren County’s ongoing efforts to support pollinators and preserve wildlife habitat through conservation initiatives.
