Hello, from me….Editor Des of Blackheath.
We have so many bees at our place here in the Blue Mountains. I know, because I help my guardian Pauline Conolly look after the garden. Or rather she helps me…ha ha. Of course the bees are asleep now, keeping warm in bed until springtime.
Baby birds and bees don’t like the cold.
Pink horse chestnut.
When my dear Grannie Jean was in hospital the only thing she really liked to eat was bread and honey. I thought that if I could find some for her it would smell and taste like all the beautiful flowers in our garden. She could pretend she was walking about with me in the sunshine.
The bees love azaleas.
Correa Flower
Pauline told me that sometimes bees make their honey in hollow trees And do you know what? I FOUND ONE! It was a gum tree in the bush near our house.
Well, sad to say there was nothing in there except some very angry ants. Some (23) crept into my jumper and bit me on the chest. And on my arm too.
In the end I thought the sensible thing to do would be to ask a bee where to find some honey. I met one on my broad bean flowers, but he wasn’t at all helpful….or kind. His bite was far worse than the ants. He said he didn’t slave away all day for the likes of me!
Oh dear me!
It’s a hard life.
Pauline had to put a band-aid on my nose. A friendlier bee apologized, but said he couldn’t tell me where the honey was because it was a secret. ‘Well that’s not very fair,’ I said.’You and your mates take all our nectar, so we deserve some of the proceeds…….ie; honey!’
I could see this one understood my position.
He buzzed around the garden for a while (thinking I guess) , then he came back and said. ‘Here’s what I’m willing to do, mate. I’ll leave you some honey in a flower tomorrow under the tulip tree. Alright?’
I thought he would forget to be honest, because (unlike bears) bees have quite small brains. But next morning I had a look and there it was. Just…wow!
I scooped some out with a little spoon. And do you know what ? Grannie Jean loved it.
I took this to Grannie Jean
Table top dancing with Grannie We had plump pudding and honey sauce for Christmas dinner..
I might buy a beehive next spring and produce my own honey. The little girl in the photo below is Gaia, who lives in England. She just might be the littlest beekeeper in the entire world. Gaia is a junior apiarist….that’s the proper word.
All suited up. (photo courtesy of Gaia’s mother)
I could have a stall at the Farmers’ Market. I would have a label saying Editor Des’s Floral Bouquet Honey.
In loving memory of Grannie Jeannie. (1924-2017)
I too love honey Dear Ed. Des. Remember that what comes out of your garden flowers is good for you. Good to eat, drink and put on burns, bites and especially bee stings. 🙂
Have passed on your message, Sandy. Des says that sounds like excellent advice.