Not sure how these ants found their way to the bottom of the cream honey jar but here they are. What a shock to find them, encased in the crystallized honey. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I reached for this toast topping. It was a jolt!
I think I’ll stick with jam.
My sister suggested looking up chocolate covered ants and yes, you can buy them to be shipped to your home.
Doesn’t one catch more flies with honey?
Honey. Harvested by Cougar Canyon Apiary in Malott WA. Extracted with no heat.
A wonderfully sweet gift from my brother David and his wife Carolee. Thank you
I believe toast in the morning will be on the menu so I can sample this golden treat.
How do you use honey?
Bee photography in my friend Joan’s garden has been an interesting experience. Joan keeps two hives of bees. When we walk through the garden she knows which bees are hers. When I left the first time she gave me a jar of honey
My return trip to Joan’s I took her a hat of apple butter. As we sat outside, I was determined to photograph a bee on the purple asters. The bees wouldn’t land for long and my hand wasn’t that steady, coming up with lots of blurry shots.
My mother loved asters. Joan said last year she inadvertently cut them down to the ground thinking it a weed. And look at the gorgeous flowers now.
Blackberry Honey gelato with pansy garnish at the Frick Cafe.
Christmas in July. Sewickley Pennsylvania. Friday evening.
Huckle Bee Farms Honey
Playmobil at Fun by the Pound Toy Store
The Pennsylvania wildflowers were painted on her beehives -see the Wildflower paintings on Beehives by Joan
Here’s one jar of the thirty pounds of honey she harvested with the help of two fellow bee experts.
They brought their extractor with them to show and teach her how to harvest the honey.
She shared the honey with them and learned how to do it herself but was best with the team. (I’m sorry I don’t recall how long it took but a few hours.)
And I can tell you that it tastes beautifully delicious, full of summer flowers. I’ll have to ask Joan what she does to prepare the beehives for the winter.
In case you want to learn how watch video
My artist friend Joan paints Pennsylvania Wildflowers on her beehives. I learned there are different parts to a beehive. (see article link below)
Her bees were busy and didn’t want to be disturbed but Joan assured me she keeps an EpiPen in case I was allergic.
Trying to photograph the hive without agitating the bees as the hive is tucked in between lush rhododendron.
One thing for sure, the bees will know which hive belongs to them and where to return
First she sketches onto the white super
Blocking them out over the pencil sketches.
As you can see, Joan has painted lots of flowers onto things in her home, too.
View from an artist’s studio
Joan’s garden provides for the bees.
If you’re interested in learning the basics of beekeeping and the parts of the hive, here’s an article A beginner beekeeper’s guide to the parts of a beehive. by Anita Deeley at BeverlyBees.com
