Wave Hill delves into the secret lives of bees

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The sight of two beekeepers working at a table covered with jars of raw honey harvested at different times of  the year made 7-year-old Asha Roy squeal in excitement at Wave Hill on Oct. 5

“I have to taste all of them to see what’s the difference,” Asha enthusiastically declared before popping a tiny sample of a late summer variety in her mouth. “It tastes good,” she judged.

Asha, who wants to start a bee club at her school, is worried about the widely reported decline in honeybees. 

“They’re disappearing,” she said. “That’s basically the entire ecosystem.” 

Considering the regression of the world’s busiest workers, the longstanding Honey Weekend tradition on Oct. 4 and 5 seemed all the more pertinent at Wave Hill, which has two bee hives of its own. There are about 60,000 worker bees per colony during the summer. 

Families from all around the city came on the final day of the weekend to celebrate honeybees while participating in a scavenger hunt, honey tastings, a bee parade, a candlemaking workshop, honey-extraction demonstrations, storytelling and inventive arts and crafts that were part of the Family Art Project. 

Martha Gellens, assistant director of marketing and communications, said the celebration provided a comprehensive educational experience about the phenomena of beekeeping.

“I don’t think people can possibly know enough about bees,” she said. “It’s a universal interest, but we just present so many dimensions to it that it appeals to both the young and old. It allows older people to enjoy wonderment of what children feel. We’re all experiencing it together.” 

For a “Be a Bee” activity in the Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center at Wave Hill, Mika Kallner, 40, sat with her children, 19-month-old Aya Yaffe-Kallner, 9-year-old Roie Yaffe-Kallner and 7-year old Ofri Yaffe-Kallner, and created miniature bees using materials like nuts, chenille stems, tissue paper, ribbons and tape. 

“My kids like arts and crafts,” said Ms. Kallner. “They’re very imaginative.” 

Tanisia Morris, Wave Hill, Honey Weekend, Bees, Honey
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