May 2009 Honey Queen Report
May 19th, 2009 | 
Author: I hope you are all enjoying this lovely spring weather and are seeing your bee
-yards hum with activity once again! As Honey Queen, I have had lots of activity in this past month, too!
I was invited by Harlan and Mary Hicken to give a presentation to the Squires, a group of boys meeting at their church, on March 2Pt. The boys were very attentive, asked many good questions, and were very interested in the live bees we brought in the observation hive. The Hicken’s grandson, Harlan, who is a Squire himself, introduced me and also answered several questions. He did an excellent job, and I appreciated his help very much!
On March 26th, I gave a presentation to the Native Plant Society at Texas Women’s University in Denton. Several of the society members were quite concerned about colony collapse disorder, and I was able to answer many questions in that regard.
The group was also very interested in purchasing local honey, with which Mrs. Acevedo and I were happy to provide.
The following day, Kaylynn Mansker and I gave bee talks for two entomology classes at a home school co-op in Carrollton. After each presentation, we gave a small Thoney bee quiz” which the children really seemed to enjoy. Both of the classes were captivated by the honey bees in our observation hive; they had a wonderful time watching the honey bees work, probably closer than they had ever seen them before, and asked so many excellent questions. I am sure many of you who have worked at the State Fair honey booth have watched as passing fairgoers, their eyes fixed on the observation hive, will approach and stare in wonder at the honey bees for some time before they become conscious of you or anything else. So often I find myself in awe as I stand in my apiary, a frame in my hands, observing a honey bee’s dance, or a new bee emerging from its cell. I am so thankful for this opportunity I have to learn about these beautiful and fascinating creatures that God has made!On April 4th, Mrs. Acevedo and I visited Nash Farm, a historical farmstead In Grapevine, where we arranged a table with an observation hive, beekeeping equipment, photographs, and honey. We were stationed under a spreading tree beside a small farm-animal petting zoo, and were pleased to have many, many people approach to ask questions, see the bees, or taste and buy honey. It was a wonderful day.
I look forward to seeing you all at the CCHBA picnic on May 16th