Category Archives: Honey Plants
Fireweed Attraction
Last week, fires in western Canada forced 47,000 people from their mountain homes. Over a hundred houses were destroyed. Livestock, wildlife, even bees went up in flame. Millions of stately pines and firs are now little more than spent matches … Continue reading
Canada: More Buzzing than Ever at 150
Today is Canada’s 150 birthday, so “it’s Canada Day, up Canada way”, as Stompin’ Tom Connors used to say. If you don’t know Stompin’ Tom, here’s your chance to rectify a serious deficiency. Connors was a great Canadian country/folk singer … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Honey Plants
Tagged Canada, Saskatchewan, Stompin Tom
1 Comment
National Pollinator Week: Shrews and Mongooses, too.
National Pollinator Week is June 19 – June 25, but summer is an odd time of year to celebrate pollinators. The big honey bee migration to California’s almonds ended in March. Bees, birds, bats, and butterflies have finished their work … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Honey Plants, Humour, Pollination, Save the Bees, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged China, elephants, Pollination, pollinators
3 Comments
Mind the Gap!
If you travel metro in London (and many other cities) you might hear a polite admonition from the public address system, “Mind the gap!” It’s advising you not to get your footwear stuck between the train and platform while boarding. Beekeepers … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Honey Plants
Tagged dandelions, feeding bees, June beekeeping
15 Comments
Wildflowers and Bees
My friend Liz Goldie was in the news again. This time it was a good thing. She had dropped by a local greenhouse to set up delivery for July for some bee-friendly wildflower seeds to distribute at Calgary’s Stampede. Before … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Friends, Honey Plants, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged Calgary, planting for bees
1 Comment
Daffodils in December?
Cherry trees in Washington bloom around April March first. Things are changing. Erik, a beekeeper/writer/blogger in northern Virginia keeps a nice online calendar showing flowering dates in his neighbourhood. It’s only a couple of years old so it just gives … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Honey Plants
Tagged Calgary, cherry, climate change, daffodils, dandelions
7 Comments
Noxious Milkweed?
The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette had a story yesterday about a fellow in Monticello who ran afoul of the law for something he’s growing in his back yard. His crime? Cultivating (Milk)weed. Bee and butterfly enthusiasts know milkweed. So do … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Honey Plants, Humour, Save the Bees
Tagged Iowa, milkweed, monarch butterfly
2 Comments
Whither the Sunflower?
It can feel a little creepy, sitting on a bench on the edge of a sunflower forest with your back to the sun. In that position, all the sunflowers are looking at you. If it’s morning. The marvel of the … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Honey, Honey Plants, Science
Tagged Alberta, circadian rhythm, honey, sunflower
1 Comment
Canola: Canada’s Yellow Carpet
Yesterday I wrote about honey that hurries towards granulation. Canola (the honey plant formerly known as rapeseed) is our local example of quick-setting honey. Canola honey is nice: white and mild with a slight minty flavour. I like it but … Continue reading
Posted in Honey Plants
Tagged Alberta, Canada, canola, glucose, granulation, map, rape seed
2 Comments
Elderberry Honey
Yesterday I wrote about a lovely honey farm called Arlo’s which is near Kelowna, British Columbia. The farm produces a variety of noms (specializing in garlic) but there is a large well-kept apiary, too. I asked beekeeper Helen if she … Continue reading
Posted in Honey, Honey Plants
Tagged Arlo's Honey, British Columbia, elderberry, honey varieties, Kelowna
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