- JUST BLOOMED TODAY
- SHOW ME THE HONEY!
- GARDEN GOODIES~FOAMING VANILLA HONEY BATH
- GARDEN GIGGLE
- FAUNA
- FEEDBACK
JUST BLOOMED TODAY
 |
| POPPIES |
 |
| Crocus |
SHOW ME THE HONEY!
Have you ever wondered how bees make honey? Yesterday we learned about how bees collect pollen from flowers to feed their young bee eggs to become larvae. Bees also collect nectar from flowers.
As the female worker bee sucks nectar from flowers it is stored in her special honey stomach which she uses as a 'nectar backpack'. This is separate from her other stomach although there is a valve she can open if she gets hungry.
After visiting 1000 to 1500 flowers, the honey stomach is full and almost equal in weight to the bee herself. At this point she returns to the hive, where she is greeted by other workers ready to relieve her of her load. A mouth to mouth transfer is normally done between a field bee and one of the hive bees.
The bee receiving processes the honey in its mouth and honey stomach by the addition of enzymes that break up the complex sugars into simple sugars that is more digestible to the bees.
After processing the honey with enzymes, small droplets are deposited on the upper side of the one of the cell walls in the hive, where it will be turned into what we know as honey. When it arrives from the bee it is nearly 80% water and must be evaporated by the heat of the hive (typically 95F degrees) and the movement of air across the honey combs. Leaving nothing to chance the bees actually control the movement of air by fanning their wings- that is the buzzing sound you hear at night when it seems no bees are present. The end result is honey as we know it, at 17-18% moisture content. Hope you can view this great video!
In the peak summer hours a worker bee literally works herself to death visiting flowers and transporting the previous cargo back to the hive. During this intense time getting ready for the approaching winter, a worker bee lives only 35 days. At the end of her days, her wings are so frayed that her usefulness is over and she is rejected by the colony.
Tomorrow- Do bees see in color
GARDEN GOODIES
Foaming Vanilla Honey Bath (SHARE OUR GARDEN RECIPE #002)
Makes four luxurious baths
(1) cup of sweet almond oil, light olive oil or sesame oil may be substituted
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup liquid soap
(1) Tablespoon vanilla extract
Measure oil in a medium bowl, then carefully stir in remaining ingredients until mixture is fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with tight fitting stopper or lid. Shake gently before using. Swirl desired amount into bathtub under running water- then step in and descend into a warm, silky escape!
GARDEN GIGGLE
Tomorrow- Do bees see in color
GARDEN GOODIES
Foaming Vanilla Honey Bath (SHARE OUR GARDEN RECIPE #002)
Makes four luxurious baths
(1) cup of sweet almond oil, light olive oil or sesame oil may be substituted
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup liquid soap
(1) Tablespoon vanilla extract
Measure oil in a medium bowl, then carefully stir in remaining ingredients until mixture is fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with tight fitting stopper or lid. Shake gently before using. Swirl desired amount into bathtub under running water- then step in and descend into a warm, silky escape!
GARDEN GIGGLE
BEE JOKES
What do bees chew?
Bumble gum
What is a baby bee?
a little humbug
What did the bee say to the other bee in summer?
Swarm here, isn't it?
Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Honeybee.
Honeybee who?
Honeybee a dear and get me a soda.
FAUNA
FEEDBACK
No comments:
Post a Comment