Melania Trump Announces White House-Shaped Beehive

First Lady Melania Trump announced on Friday the expansion of the White House beekeeping program with the addition of a new beehive shaped like the White House on the south grounds. The initiative builds on two existing hives that have been in place since 2009, aiming to boost honey production and support pollination efforts across the presidential grounds and nearby areas.

The current hives house up to 70,000 bees during peak summer months and yield between 200 and 225 pounds of honey annually, according to White House officials. The new hive, which will accommodate two additional bee colonies, is expected to increase output by approximately 30 pounds each year. White House chefs use the light clover and basswood honey, noted for its citrus undertones, in meals prepared for residents and guests, including teas, salad dressings, and desserts. Excess honey serves as official gifts from the president and first lady, as well as donations to local food kitchens.

Beyond production, the bees play a vital role in pollinating the White House's vegetable garden, established by former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009, along with a nearby flower cutting garden and vegetation on the...