Master Gardeners led a special program about bees as part of the Summer Reading Program at the library. Amber and Colin Rakes attended dressed in beekeeping suits. They taught attendees about honey bee behavior and beekeeping, including showing a smoker, a bee stinger, bee wax and tasting spring and fall honey from their hives.
Children also got to try on beekeepers’ headgear.
John Morehead explained bumble bee behavior and how a bumble bee would use a homemade bumble bee house.
Norma Bozenmayer showed an active Mason bee house and explained Mason bee behavior.
The program then moved to the library patio, where Master Gardeners then helped participants make Mason bee houses. Youngsters took the bee houses with them to install on their property in the hopes of encouraging these beneficial solitary bees to their home gardens. Mason bees are amazing pollinators.
