Is it honeybee or honey bee? As a general rule, I believe there is more than one way to do most things—all of which are dependent on the facts and circumstances in the specific case. However, there is one issue on which I will not give an inch, and that is the spelling of “honey […] Read more
I have an emotional attachment to buckwheat—it’s that simple. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, special-occasion breakfasts were celebrated with buckwheat pancakes topped with buckwheat honey. These dark-colored, robust-flavored pancakes were started the night before with a yeast batter and cooked the next morning on a cast-iron griddle, sizzling hot. The cakes were served with fresh […] Read more
A strange honey bee behavior known as “washboarding” or “rocking” continues to elude an explanation, but it is fun to watch. Worker bees gather in large groups—either inside the hive or out—and rock back and forth while seeming to lick the surface beneath them. The motion has been likened to that of scrubbing clothes on […] Read more
Of the many on-going bee projects across the globe, one in particular has caught my attention. The project, a documentary film entitled More Than Honey, will be “a film about bees and beekeepers, about pollen and honey, about biology and business.” The film is an international endeavor directed by Markus Imhoof from Switzerland and co-produced […] Read more
Autumn is prime propolis-harvesting time for many folks. Propolis has many uses and it can frequently be sold to companies who manufacture medicinal herbs and natural remedies. If you are interested in harvesting propolis, it helps to have a contraption called a propolis trap. This re-usable, inexpensive object is nothing more than a plastic grid […] Read more
Goldenrod is one of those plants that everyone knows, but no one can identify—or so it seems. The genus Solidago—to which all the goldenrods belong—is extremely variable. The flowers, the leaves, even the general silhouette of the plant can vary markedly depending on where you live. The ones here on the west coast have baffled […] Read more
I spent a few days last week visiting my daughter who lives in Issaquah, a bustling suburb of Seattle. Ironically, she was never much of a gardener until she moved into a condo. Now, however, every square inch of her limited outdoor space is filled with vegetables and herbs. And she even has a worm […] Read more