Milo Garden Club news
MILO — Would you stick your arm in a swarm of bees? Rufus Cox, guest speaker at the Milo Garden Club March meeting, said he would and he sure did. His interest in honey bees began many years ago when his cucumbers were growing crooked. A friend told him they had not been pollinated. From that moment, his life became all about honey bees and he was happy to share his knowledge and experiences.
Cox began by telling the group that 60% of the food we eat is thanks to bees. Protecting the hive and caring for the queen are guard bees, nurse bees and housekeeper bees. He also spoke about the 90-pound weight of a honey-filled hive and how bees back into tiny cells in the hive to deposit their gathered pollen. Cox described the bee’s passion for linden tree blossoms. Bee balm and milkweed are suggestions for some of the many plants that attract bees.
GUEST SPEAKER — Guest speaker Rufus Cox sits with his wife Charlene and Milo Garden Club member Barbara Reed before his presentation to the club on March 10.
Near the end of his presentation, Cox described the time he was driving his car when he noticed a swarm of honey bees in a lilac tree. He stopped the car and asked his son to bring him a hive box. He shook the lilac branches and bees dropped into the box. But, the bees weren’t happy. Cox tried again. Still unhappy bees. Then he reached his arm into the swarm and with his fingers, picked out the queen and dropped her in the box. All the other bees began flitting their little wings and rejoicing for their queen.
The next meeting of Milo Garden Club is Tuesday, April 14 at 1 p.m. at the Kiwanis Building which is located behind NAPA on outer Park Street. Brownville Fire Chief Shawn Mitchell will demonstrate the use of AED equipment.
There is no admission fee. You do not have to be a resident of Milo to attend meetings or become a member. For more information, please call 207-943-2400.