Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Pooh Bear would be delighted by the number of beehives that now grace our city and suburbs. 

Isn't it funny

How a Bear likes honey?

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

I wonder why he does?

It's a very funny thought, that if Bears were Bees,

They'd build their nests at the bottom of trees.

And that being so (if Bees were Bears),

We shouldn't have to climb up all these stairs.

I love that we are slowly becoming aware of how important bees are to our survival. Without them busily pollinating the world our plants would not 'bear fruit' and feed us. The first time I became aware of honey being collected in a city was a film I saw about the nee-baroque Paris Opera House. To see beehives on the top of this wonderful building astounded me! 

Can you see the hives - I can't!

And now we have our very own Roof Top Honey Company. What a great initiative. There are beehives dotted around the city and on the roof of Federation Square there are now 10 beehives in a 'bee village'. They will deliver around 15-30 kilograms of honey in the 'high honey season' of October - April. The busy bees travel around 2-3 kilometres to collect their precious nectar. 

Scary - but look at the view!

I was surprised to read on their website that 'city' honey is more productive than 'country' honey The main reason for the success of urban bees is the variety of flora growing in the city compared with to what is now present in much of the countryside which often has just one crop dominating an entire area.  When that has finished blossoming, there is no more nectar for the local bees.  In Paris, after analyzing the honey it was discovered that it contained more than 250 different pollens. In the countryside there can be as few as only 15 or 20 different pollens. 

My friend stocks it at her marvellously eclectic Ganim's Store at 61 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. You will also find it at the wonderful new Spring Street Grocer (more on this precinct in a future post) at 157 Spring Street in the city. 

Honey jars or tubes (Pooh would love to drink straight from the tubes without getting his fingers sticky!)

Heide Gallery also have their own hives which are dotted around the property. Of course the honey is available at the lovely Cafe Vue (see earlier post 9 July 2013). And more people are now putting beehives in their backyards (I hope with Council/neighbour approval!) 

There are Apiary courses held every weekend at the Abbotsford Convent by the Urban Honey Co. The bees are moved around the area (Ceres, Abbotsford etc) on a trike - what fun! 

Beehives on the move!

So with Spring in the air the Abba song seems pretty appropriate  

Honey, honey, how you thrill me, ah, ha, honey, honey!