Milford Garden Club Hosts Beekeeper

No bees or butterflies, No farms, No food

According to beekeeper, Cathy Wolcott, owner of the Humble Bee Honey Co. in Watertown, CT, bees and butterflies are in serious danger of extinction.  In 2003 there were 29,000 Monarchs; in 2015 only a minimal amount.  These pollinators are essential for the growth of vegetables and flowers along with the honey bees. 
 
Honey bees will travel two to five miles and make 500 to 600 trips to get nectar, food and water.  Each bee in a lifetime (4-6 weeks in summer, 10-12 weeks in winter) will make 11 pounds of honey.  Foraging is labor intensive and dangerous because it exposes bees to predators.
 
To support bees and butterflies, make your backyards pollinator-friendly by including plants that provide good habitats for them as well as birds.  Milkweed plants are excellent to attract butterflies and skunk cabbage is important to honey bees.  If they can't get back to the hive after foraging, they sleep on the stalks and their nectar makes very sweet honey.  Please don't use pesticides as they poison these pollinators.
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Submitted by Milford, CT

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