Due to the drought of 2007, my honeybees produced no significant amount
of honey.....................from flowers. They did, however produce
honey. Each hive packed their two brood chamber boxes plus two surplus
supers with a very dark honey that is nearly the same color as honey made
from Buckwheat flowers. At first we didn't know what it was but several
members of the local beekeeper's association insisted that it has to be
honey made from honeydew - honeydew is the sweet excretion of aphids.
There was an explosion in the Aphid population here on the farm. Every
leaf of the Maple trees was spotted with blobs of honeydew. Most of it
molded as evidenced by the numerous black spots on the leaves. I keep pans
of water filled during the honey-flow and, this year, the bees were emptying
the pans in just a few days whereas, normally, I fill the pans every week to
ten days. Honeydew dries to a sticky consistency quickly and, apparently,
the bees needed the excess water to reconstitute the partially dried
honeydew.
Buckwheat honey has a strong flavor that many folks dislike but this
honeydew honey, though it has a distinct flavor, is quite pleasant with a
mild honey flavor. I wish we had saved more of it but most got mixed with
honey extracted from other bee yards.
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]