We saw the bee hives on the flat roof of the Royal York hotel, just hidden by the new tall buildings on Queens Quay. They are set in a great herb garden there. It is immediately to the left of the golden glowing Royal Bank seen last week at sunrise from Algonquin Island as we prepared for the Round The Island windsurf Marathon. (The brightest copper glow on the right side is from the newer Bank of Nova Scotia further up town)
Back in Perrysburg I reluctantly donated one of my few combs for taste testing against 15 other honey samples by 30 members of the local bee club, meeting at 577 Foundation.
You can’t imagine my surprise when it was awarded the very last prize of the night:
Back at the ‘farm’ I put in a one-way gate under the top honey ‘super’ (box). After 2 days it was almost empty of bees so I could take off 30 pounds of honey.
When I took off the next box to check for beetles, etc., and temporarily put it down on edge (so as not to squish them) the bees wandered out of their unfamiliar home,
but I put the board in front of the hive and they all obediently walked back in.
They really are very well behaved and don’t sting me much at all now.
Right now they are out gathering pollen from Golden Rod and Sedum in the last warmth of summer.
Cant wait to taste the prizewinning honey. Sounds like you need some jars and labels and you’ll be in business. Oh if only you had some designy kids to do that for you.
This is the best quote: “They don’t sting me much at all now”
First prize?! On your first attempt?! Amazing! Well done, Dad. Those bees must be very satisfied with their new over-lord. Congratulations to them as well!