Katelyn Freil, Marketing Specialist
Want to hear something sweet? Summit Metro Parks wildflower honey is back in stock at Maple Leaf Gifts. Collected from hives within the park district, this honey is a tasty treat perfect for gifting — to others or yourself!
Hives in Summit Metro Parks are managed by staff and volunteers under the direction of park biologist Marlo Perdicas. Marlo says beekeepers in the program have become more skilled since Metro Parks first embarked on this journey in 2018, leading to an increasing yield of honey from a small number of hives. From this year alone, the team has harvested 250 pounds of honey!
Honey is made from flower nectar collected by bees. The nectar is returned to the hive, where bees dehydrate it by fanning their wings. Bees make wax from glands in their abdomen to build honeycombs, where the honey is stored.
While we may enjoy bees for the sweet product of all this hard work, they play a much more important role in our ecosystem as pollinators. While gathering from flowers, bees pick up additional pollen that is passed between plants, fertilizing them. Bees pollinate most of our food crops, from tomatoes to almonds. Without them, we would be without many of the foods our society depends on.
You can support a thriving habitat for bees in your own back yard. Native species provide vital sources of nectar and pollen that bees need. Adding native plants to your backyard, particularly ones that bloom at different times of year, can go a long way in helping our fuzzy pollinating friends. Follow along with Wild Back Yards to explore ways small differences at home can make a big impact for local wildlife.
Ready to get a taste for yourself? Stop by Maple Leaf Gifts to pick up a bottle of Summit Metro Parks wildflower honey. It makes a great addition to a hot cup of tea, on fresh-baked rolls or in homemade salad dressings.
Try this: Combine extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh SMP honey, stone ground mustard, and a bit of coarse salt. Eat over a salad with fresh greens and seasonal fruits or vegetables, like roasted root vegetables in the fall or berries during summer.