Edison, Ford estates to mark National Honey Bee Day
In celebration of National Honey Bee Day on Aug. 21, the community is invited to learn about honey bees at a free event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.
The day’s itinerary will include demonstrations and lectures, and a hands-on demonstration on bee keeping for children. Plus, multiple vendors will be on site for a plant fair and sale, with food trucks and live music. The free public event does not include the tours or admission to the museum or lab.
The Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida will give lectures on honey bee ecology and plant pollination, and demonstrations on an open hive, honey extraction and bottling, and bee wax and candle making. It will also have an observation hive, information table, and honey for sale and tasting.
In addition, the Florida Native Plant Society will have an information table and will be available to answer questions about Florida native plants.
Several food and beverage vendors will be on site, including the Foodology Food Truck and Daddy Dee’s Ice Cream Parlor, and Vibes and Spices will have beer and other beverages for sale. David Rojas will perform live music, and pollinator plants will be available for purchase in the Garden Shoppe.
More than a dozen honey bee hives are managed by professional beekeepers at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Historically, bees were critical to the site for pollination. As early as 1886, Thomas Edison instructed his caretaker to obtain bee hives to pollinate flowers and other plants on his property.
Approximately one-third of the food that humans consume each day requires pollination, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and other crops. Bees are also the primary pollinator for many flowers that grow in the wild or are cultivated for use in landscaping.
In addition to honey bees, there are more than 4,000 native bee species in North America; more than 300 of those are found in Florida and 29 of those are endemic — found only in the state. Due to pesticide use, disease and parasites, bee populations have decreased considerably. Across the United States, some native bee species have been added to the endangered list, such as the rusty-patched bumblebee, Bombus affinis, and seven species of the Hawaiian yellow-faced bees.
“This is an opportunity for local residents to learn about the important role bees play in our environment and how everyone can help protect honey bees and the many Florida native bees in their own home gardens,” Horticulture Director Debbie Hughes said.
For more information, visit www.edisonford.org or call 239-334-7419.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.