That photo is adorable.
True story: back in the early 70s I had a longhaired friend who kept bees. He’d been out smoking the hives, collecting honey, and was driving home with his friend in his very beat up old pickup truck full of stuff in the back. They got pulled over by a cop who, upon seeing their bloodshot eyes and smelling smoke asked them, “You boys been smokin’ dope?” “No sir, officer, we been smokin’ bees.” I think they got a warning for a tail light being out.
I love comparing the tastes of different honeys. My favorite is black locust. It’s very pale in color and has a zingy, floral taste. In the valley were my grandmother was born in the mountains in northern Italy is a small shop that sells locally produced items like cheese, mushrooms, and honey. He has a shelf with over a dozen types of honey lined up in order from lightest in color to darkest. I would have loved to buy them all and have a honey tasting party but it would have been so heavy to transport flying home so I settled on two: alpine flowers and heather. As expected, the alpine flowers was a very floral taste. The heather was fascinating - slightly bitter at first with a buttery aftertaste.
@Babichev smokin' bees! hahaha! Too funny!
I LOVE tasting different honeys from different places. Tupelo honey will always be my favorite. "Tupelo honey is not just a southern honey, it is only produced in two tiny regions of the Southeastern United States, the Okeefenokee Wildlife Refuge on the Georgia-Florida line and the Apalachicola River basin right in the crook of Florida where the peninsula becomes the panhandle."
What a beautiful memory of your grandma and her honey shelf!
I don't think bees make honey for humans to consume. We're literally stealing from them. :P
@Mike403, you're misinformed.
If bees don't like the conditions you've provided, they'll just leave (even without the queen). You can't put leashes on bees—you have to bribe 'em with a good location to build, lots of plants they like, medical care, etc., and hope for the best.
Bees usually make more honey than they need, so that's what we take: the excess. Keeps them from getting crowded out of their place, too.
If you want to be seen as a good person, I'd advise more research on the subjects you want people to think you care about. Accurate information is essential to proper caring.
sigh. I wasn't serious. Notice me sticking my tongue out at the end of my message. I'm not a vegan and enjoy honey.
@Mike403: And here I thought it indicated sheepishness, chagrin, mild disgust, apology for what might otherwise be interpreted as too strong a condemnation.... The way I've always seen it used by everyone else who uses it misled me! Perhaps try "/jk" next time.
And they waggle dance….like me! Lol. My name means honey bee.
This is so sweet! Thank You for sharing and brightening my day!
So cute it stings!