The Amazing Honeybee

Last year while shopping, I picked up a couple of books on Beekeeping and Honey.  There are two books in the box: The Complete Step-By-Step Book of Honey by Jenni Fleetwood and The Complete Step-By-Step Book of Beekeeping by David Cramp. They are easy to read, short books with lots of information and pictures!

early morning visitor at our lavender plant on the porch

BEES IN OUR BACKYARD

There is always a big hooray when the honeybees begin to buzz around the yard in the spring!! The fields of clover, dandelion and henbit are allowed to grow extra tall before that first mow. 

The bees are "givers" in our lives, working so hard to pollinate our food crops and produce honey.  Becoming better educated about the bee and beekeeping has been an enjoyable pastime. I knew bees were important to our lives and we even planted a wildflower garden for their survival. Unfortunately, my bee knowledge was somewhat lacking; my brain only had a few stored facts left over from grade school. So, I decided to change that by doing some reading and research. You can pick any creature, delve into their lives and be amazed at what you find!!  I picked the Honeybee and was AMAZED! There are books and books written about this small creature! Here are just a FEW interesting facts I found.

• There are about 20,000 species of bees. Most just collect nectar and pollen for their own use. Only a few varieties actually store honey.

• Did you know there are patterns on flowers? We don't see them, but the bees do! These lines on the petals are signposts for the bees. It will take them right to the nectar.

•  Bees need water to control their temperature and humidity.

• The scout bees will go out far and wide looking for the best nectar and pollen site. Once the place is found, they travel back to the hive and inform the forager bees of the location by doing a "waggle dance". This dance is always done on the face of the honeycomb in the figure of an eight. The forager bees will collect all the data needed, even the type of flower, and off they go!

• The bees will begin collecting pollen and nectar, but they will only collect from one

   type of flower for that particular flight! The next flight, they may go to another              flower, and only collect from it! 

• Once pollen and nectar is collected, the bees buzz back to the hive. On their way, the injected nectar unites with different enzymes and the honey process begins! Upon arrival he throws up some and passes it on to the worker bee. The worker bee will add some more enzymes and then will place the sap into the waiting brood box.  

• The worker bees will fan the cells with their wings to achieve just the right moisture in the cell; when that is done, it will be sealed off with wax...no more moisture can leave and the honey is safe.

Bees, beekeeping, using beeswax for soap or candles, or just eating honey, there is SO MUCH to learn. I can't wait to read more bee books!

How would you like a biscuit drizzled with Australian eucalyptus honey, apple blossom honey, avocado honey, blackberry honey, heather honey, French sunflower honey, or my favorite clover honey, and the list goes on....  

Our honey supply...this is a deep shelf! 

Each year we buy a years supply for our use and as gifts for the children. I like baking with honey instead of sugar! The rule is to substitute 8 oz. of honey for 1 cup of sugar and reduce the liquid by 4 Tbsp. Personally, I may use less honey, because we generally like more of a natural sweetness. This apple pie was made for Thanksgiving from a recipe out of the Food Network Magazine.  Honey was substituted for sugar (I did use some sugar on the top glaze). For over 30 years our "honey" man has come through with the best tasting Kentucky/Missouri honey! He is getting older, so it might be time to think about some bee hives of our own!?!? That's another story :)

Juliet