Bees were buzzing and honey flowing... by Carol Cox

Transcription

1 September 2017 / February 2008 Bees were buzzing and honey flowing... by Carol Cox Well, that might be a bit of hyperbole, but everyone in attendance on August 21st at the monthly Eau Claire Area Master Gardener Association (ECAMGA) educational meeting (held at the UW-Eau Claire Extension Office in Altoona) certainly learned a great deal about honeybees and honey. Drew Kaiser, a local beekeeper and Eau Claire native told how he came to beekeeping by a circuitous route. Kaiser, with a UWEC Art degree, was introduced to beekeeping by his wife who was interested in bees. His initial interest lay in the area of using beeswax as an artistic medium but it was not long before he was interested in the whole specterum of the honeybee. Photo by Paula Bonnin This is Drew s seventh season of running Kaisersen Honey. Altogether they have 30 colonies located at 7 sites including one in their backyard in Shawtown. Apis Mellifera, the honey bearing bee, is not a native of the U.S. nor of Wisconsin. And, in fact, the Wisconsin winters are particularly hard on the honeybee with a very high mortality rate (70% range over the last 3 years). Western honeybees can vary in color but all of them pretty much have furry abdomens, four wings, six legs and unsegmented antennae. Most of the honey bearing bees are either of the Carniolan strain or the Buckfast strain and have been bred for docility. By conterast the African honeybee is extremely suited to honey gathering, even more so than the Canolean and Buckfast strains, but is very agressive and difficult to deal with. Kaiser went over the types of bees found in the hive. The Queen is the carrier of the genetic material and can live up to 9 years but that is very uncommon with the average commercial colony Queen averaging about a 2 year life span. She has a non-barbed stinger and lays eggs to replentish the hive population. The Queen has a much longer abdomen than the other bees and. is usually the largest bee in the colony. In order for a Queen to be created certain egg cells are fed Royal Jelly and these develope into Queens. The worker bee is an inferteile female and performs the work in the colony. Her life span ranges from a few weeks to a few months and spends the last part of her life as a scout bee looking for food sources for the colony. This bee has a barbed stinger and, once she stings someone or something, the stinger, along with the venom sac, is ripped from her body and she dies. Drone bees are male bees with large bodies and eyes. There are only a few hundred of them in the colony and they basically live, eat and procreate and then die after fertilizing the Queen bee. They have no stinger. Before there were beekeepers people went out to hunt for honey. Then, somewhere around 8,000 BCE humans began to keep bees in skep hives. Early beekeeping was somewhat accidental and the skep hives were squeezed to get the honey out and, in the process, the bees died. Ultimately a man named Lorenzo (LL) Langstroth discovered bee space. His discovery was that there was a 3/8 inch space between the combs. With this knowledge he was able Was able to devise a movable frame system that allowed taking the honey out of the hive without sacrificing the colony of bees. In addition the centrifuge allowed the honey to be extracted from those removable frames. Honeybees were first brought to North America in about 1609 and the USDA estimates that one in three bites of food can be attributed to honeybee pollination so honeybees play a major role in the agricultural industry both in the U.S. and around the world. (Continued on page 3) INSIDE: Local Master Gardener News - 2 Upcoming Events 4

2 Page 2 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener New September 2017 Changing ? Moving? If you do, please remember to notify the ECAMG and the newsletter editor of your new e- mail address and/or mailing address so you don t miss any Eau Claire Area Master Gardener happenings! your new information to Carol Cox at c7w6c2200@charter.net or notify her by snail mail at 1908 Hogeboom Ave., Eau Claire, WI (or call her at cell). MGV Bulletin Board Postings Stories and Opportunities!!!! Bulletin Board Postings Local Master Gardener News Name ECAMGA Board ECAMGA BOARD MEMBER CONTACT INFO Erin LaFaive Mary Jane Griffin Dick Lienhardt Nancy Spak Ede Strand Jerry Richards Carla Pelzl Nina Logan Ellen Terwilliger Lori Kempen address Phone number Erin.lafaive@ces.uwex.edu mgriffinhlaa@gmail.com dicklienhardt@yahoo.com nancyspak@gmail.com edestrand@aol.com richardsleeann@hotmail.com jcpelzl@gmail.com ninalogan@centurylink.net terwilset@gmail.com lorikempen@charter.net NOTE: The ECAMGA Board minutes no longer appears in the newsletter. You may access them by going to the website at ECAMGA 2017 Calendar All meetings at UW-Extension Office unless otherwise noted September 18, 2017: End of Season Harvest Potluck Fifth Annual ECAMGA Photo Contest Submit photos via to Carol Cox at c7w6c2200@charter.net by October 7, Please place Photo Contest Entry as the subject. For the specific rules see the August 2017 issue of the ECAMGA Newsletter (page 2). Don t Forget!!!!!! Your volunteer hours for the October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017 activities are due into Erin LaFaive by October 1, Remember Record travel time to and from the volunteer site. Travel time is not added to continuing education (events you went to for more education). It s okay to estimate if you can t remember exact dates or times. October 1, 2017: Volunteer hours due in to UW-Extension Office for 2016/2017 year October 7, 2017: Deadline for entry for ECAMGA Photo Contest October 16, 2017: Healthy Houseplants Kelly from DTE Garden Center November 20, 2017: Ellen Terwilliger - Costa Rica Cocoa Plantation December 2017: Annual Christmas Party and Election of Board Members.

3 Page 3 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News September 2017 Bees continued from page 1 Bees have a means of communication via pheromones. These are also given off when a bee stings you. In addition, Kaiser commented, that if you eat a banana around them you might find yourself being stung as that mimics the pheromone. Smoke, which beekeepers use to control the bees when they are working the hives, also disrupts the pheromones and causes the bees to start gorging on honey and this slows them down. Bees scout out food sources and then the scout bee returns to the hive and does a little waggle dance to communicate to the Picture by Paula Bonnin other bees just where the food source is and how much of it there is. A man by the name of Carl Von Frisch, was able to decode the waggle dance and we now know how to interpret what the scout bee is doing. Bees will forage anywhere from three to five miles from the hive to find a source for their food. They will also, unlike the bumblebee, completely deplete one source of food before moving on to another. Usually bees are purchased in packages of two or three pounds. That package will contain worker bees along with a Queen. Typically the Chippewa Valley Beekeepers Association will sell such a two-pound package for about $130. Farm and Fleet also sells these packages although the price is somewhat higher. These usually arrive in April and the beekeeper will have to feed them until the food sources become available. Drew also indicated that he prefers purchasing his bees as a Nuke where everything is present. These come in May and can be put right to work. He also commented that about twenty-five percent of the Queen bees available commercially are duds. Some of the concerns that beekeepers face include Colony Collapse Disorder. There are various causes for this including the use of pesticides. What happens is that the bees just do not come back to the hive. This begins to be noticeable in the fall. In addition beekeepers fight the Varroa Destructor Mite, which was introduced to North America in the late 1908s. Another problem is the lack of biodiversity in our cropping system thereby making a continuous supply of food for the honeybee a problem. Our native bees are even more susceptible to the lack of biodiversity in that a beekeeper can move his bees to another location or feed them but the native bee has no such options. Interestingly it takes 556 worker bees their entire life to gather just one pound of honey. In addition to the honey bees wax is produced which is used to make lip balms and candles among other things. Also, propolis, a resinous material is produced by the bee. This substance shows some promise in the treatment of cancer. And, of course, Royal Jelly is produced in the hive. This material is high in antioxidants and is used in cosmetics and lotions. Recently the city of Eau Claire has also changed its laws and now allows beekeeping in the city limits. Kaiser was one of those who worked to get the City to allow beekeeping within the city limits and now the city of Altoona also allows beekeeping within the city. In order to keep bees on a city lot a six-foot flyway barrier is needed. Within the city of Eau Claire a permit is needed to keep bees and the number of Icolonies depends on the size of the lot. The County also has some requirements but a homeowner can keep up to four colonies without a permit. The presentation garnered quite a number of questions for Kaiser with him also referring those who wanted to go more in depth to the Chippewa Valley Beekeepers, which meets the second Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m. at the WWIB Radio Station. After the meeting treats were served and door prizes awarded. If you missed it make sure to mark your calendar for the September meeting, which will be the annual season harvest event. This will be held on September 18 th at 6:30 p.m. at the UW-Eau Claire Extension Office in Altoona. This will be a potluck so bring something (maybe made with your garden produce) as well as your stories of what worked and what didn t this past season in your garden. See you there.

4 Page 4 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener New September 2017 Upcoming Events & Other Things House Plants Wanted... Annual Harvest Potluck On Monday, September 18th the Eau Claire Area Master Gardener Volunteer Association (ECAMGVA) will host a potluck supper at the UW-Eau Claire Extension Office in Altoona. This will be an event celebrating the end of our growing season. All members and their spouses or significant others are invited for this fun evening. Please bring a dish to pass, if possible using something from your garden. Anything goes, appetizers, salads, hot dishes, desserts or whatever you create. Feel free to share the recipe with the group if desired. Coffee and another beverage will be provided. I am looking to enhance some of our campus spaces with indoor plants. I m wondering if any fellow master gardeners would have plants they would be interested in donating. If you have plants that you would like to donate please contact me at the phone number below. Thanks for your help! Katie Wilson, M.A. Health Educator, Student Health Service & Health Promotion & Academic Staff Rep to the UW System UW-Eau Claire, Schofield Hall 26 Ph.: Be prepared to discuss the success of your plantings this year. We will share with others what worked and what didn't this past summer. This will be a casual time to get to know your fellow gardening friends. We will start at the usual 6:30 meeting time. Please call the office at and let us know how many will be attending. There will be a drawing for door prizes. Prepare something special and join us for an evening of "garden talk." Master at the Prairie Wisconsin Master Gardener Association State Conference October 13th - 14th, 2017 Join Washington County as we host the State WIMGA Conference for The conference will begin on Friday night October 13th. Our guest speakers for Friday night will be Susan Carpenter of UW Arboretum; Susan will present the topic of using native plants in your landscape. The night will end with Martine and Edgar Anderson owners of Fragrant Isle of Washington Island. Martine and Edgar have the largest lavender farm in the Midwest. Come and join us and take a virtual tour of their home on Washington Island and learn the difference in culinary or fragrant lavender. Saturday October 14th begins at 8:30 with breakout speakers and ending at 3:00PM. Our guest speakers will present topics ranging from organic apple trees, hostas, growing mushrooms in Wisconsin, succulents, native pollinators in the garden, growing sweet potatoes. winter gardening and soils and so much more. Coming to this event you will begin to see all that Washington County has to offer, and you will be a Master at the Prairie. For a brochure go to: or contact Vicky Hoppe (Phone: or hoppvicky@att.net.

5 Page 45 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News September June 2017 Classes: Saturday, September 9 th : 10:00 am - Succulent Planter Workshop Create your very own succulent garden! Chose any size pot and we will help you create your very own masterpiece. Learn how to care for your succulent garden throughout the year as well. Cost: Build your own; only pay for what you take home. * Bring your own container or purchase one here. Thursday, September 28 th : 5:00 pm Saturday, September 30th 10:00 am - Terrarium Workshop Come discover why terrariums are growing so popular and how they are a great way to get kids excited about gardening. A simple glass container can be transformed into a self-sustained tropical oasis! Learn how to properly put together a glass terrarium that creates a perfect growing environment for plants, and adds life to your office desk, the nook in your kitchen or a child s room. * Bring your own glass container or purchase one here. Cost: Build your own; only pay for what you take home 6025 Arndt Lane Eau Claire WI, home@dwntoearth.com Huge tropical blooms bring an exotic feel to temperate climates. Almost everyone loves the look of hibiscus but our climate is not conducive to their survival, at least not to the tropical varieties. However, there is such a thing as hardy hibiscus with similarly spectacular blooms. Hardy hibiscus creates huge colorful blooms and are extremely easy to grow. They need full sun, good soil, and some pruning once in awhile. A word of caution, they leaf out very late in spring, so it would be wise to mark where they are planted and be patient and don't assume they're dead and dig them out! If you are patient, in a few weeks you'll have attractive foliage and soon thereafter a summer filled with really spectacular blooms. Photo by Carol Cox of a hardy hibiscus in her garden. Unlike the smaller tropical non-hardy variety, hardy hibiscus grow well in many parts of the country including colder climates to zone 4. Interestingly they were created from a few little-known wild hibiscus species from North America. While tropical hibiscus bloom profusely, each bloom usually lasts only one or two days. Colors in tropical hibiscus are often salmon, peach, orange or yellow. Tropical flowers can be single or double layers of petals with widths of 3 to 4 inches. Hardy hibiscus flowers, on the other hand, are usually larger and often in colors white, pink or red. Plant after all danger of frost has passed in well-drained, fertile soil. Hardy hibiscus like the heat and full sun, so consider planting them near a south-facing wall or building. Pinch the shoots of young plants in early summer to encourage branching and more flower stalks to form. Hardy hibiscus can also self-sow and become weedy. The self-sown seedlings will not necessarily be the same color as the parents, but can be transplanted and moved throughout the garden if so desired. Keep plants deadheaded to look tidy and prevent the seeds from sowing if you don t want seedlings. Cut back plants after a frost to the ground and compost the flower stalks.

6 Page 6 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News September 2017 Western District Specialized Master Gardener Volunteer Workshop Propagation and Roses Last chance for education /volunteer hours Saturday, September 30 th, :00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Seyforth Building Pierce County Fairgrounds 364 North Maple Street Ellsworth, WI Cornflake Chewies 1/2 cups white sugar 3/4 cup honey or corn syrup 1-cup peanut butter 6 cups cornflakes Combine sugar, and honey in a saucepan. Heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and blend in peanut butter. Place cornflakes in large buttered bowl. Pour your honey mixture over the cereal and toss until well coated. Spread mixture in a buttered 9 X 13 cake pan. Let cool and cut into squares. (Recipe from Sue Crisp via Lori Kempen) Can be made in the microwave. Cook for ~3 minutes. Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity. -Lindley Karstens, Speakers include: Brian Smith, Professor of Horticulture, Budding and Grafting Propagation Techniques David Zlesak, Associate Professor of Horticulture, The Cutting Edge of Landscape Roses Vickie Reschke, SCVMGA Master Gardener, Propagating Sedum Jonna Klukas, Garden Expressions, Fall Wreath Demonstration Registration fee: $15 payable to SCVMGA. Includes lunch on site. Mail to: SCVMG Reschke, 2630 Overlook Ave N., Stillwater, MN Questions: Phone: vickie.reschke@gmail.com S.C.V.M.G.A. is proud to host and sponsor the eighth annual Western District Round-Robin Specialized Master Gardener Volunteer workshop. Our workshop is open to all certified and intern master gardener volunteers. Western District Specialized MGV workshops provide excellent and very low cost opportunities for education hours learning about a variety of topics presented at a high level by experts.

7 Page 7 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News September 2017 Sally Anderson took this picture of some of her coneflowers that are exhibiting symptoms of Aster Yellows. (Photo by Jo-Ann Clark) Local Gardeners Tour Hybridizer s Farm by Jo-Ann Clark On Friday, July 28, 2017, Susan Kaul, Susan Girnau, Carol Losey and I visited with Timothy J. Fehr at his daylily farm (Sundance Hill Farm th St. Chippewa Falls WI). Susan Kaul, who does a lot of lily hybridizing, asked Tim a lot of questions about daylily hybridizing (she knew the right questions to ask him). I wish I could have taken a video of the whole tour because as a daylily lover and collector there is so much to learn. When I look at day lilies I only see the colors. Aster yellows is a chronic, systemic plant disease caused by a bacteriumlike organism called a phytoplasma. The aster yellows phytopla sma (AYP) affects 300 species in 38 families of broad-leaf herbaceous plants, primarily in the aster family, as well as important cereal crops such as wheat and barley. For more information on this disease go to: When Tim looks at day lilies, he is looking at them as a hybridizer. How many branches and buds on one stem, are there any unusual characteristics (like an extra petaloid), do the branches stay upright and not fold over with the wind. He is also looking at the size of the plant (in height), the size of the flower, the time of bloom, early, mid or late and how long it blooms. This, any much more, is on his thought list as he looks at a daylily! In addition, Tim said that anyone who would like to practice taking pollen from a daylily flower and fertilizing another daylily flower is welcome to come to his farm and give it a try. In every gardener there is a child who believes in The Seed Fairy. Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com Photo by Dana Cox This is a Question Mark butterfly (Polygonia interrogationis). It ranges from Southern Canada and all of the eastern US (except Florida) and west to the western edge of the Rocky Mountains and then south to southern Arizona and Mexico. It was photographed in the Janesville garden of Carol Cox s daughter, Dana.

8 Page 8 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener September 2017 Anybody who wants to rule the world should try to rule a garden first. -Garden Saying EAU CLAIRE AREA MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER A newsletter for the Eau Claire Area Master Gardener Association members. Unless otherwise noted, articles for this newsletter are submitted and/or written by ECAMGA members or the newsletter editor, Carol W. Cox. Unless otherwise noted, graphics are from clipart. Newsletter layout by Carol W. Cox For more Eau Claire County UW Cooperative Extension information go to our website: Phone: Fax: M-F 8AM-5PM The University of Wisconsin Extension provides affirmative action and equal opportunity in education, programming and employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, gender/sex, creed, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental, arrest or conviction record or veteran status. If you need an interpreter, materials in alternate formats or other accommodations to access this program, activity or service, please contact Erin LaFaive at as soon as possible preceding the scheduled event so that proper arrangements can be made in a timely fashion Eau Claire County Extension Office 227 First Street West Altoona, WI 54720

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