Ask anyone working on the land and they well tell you the same story, it has been a tough year. Too much rain and not enough warmth. That which affects the plants affects the bees.
We’ve not done badly though, there is probably enough honey to get us through until the 2025 crop arrives, and of course next year will be fantastic! Looking around the hoeny shows, most of the local honey seems quite light this year, perhaps because the weather favourite spring flowers rather than the summer ones. There was some good weather in early spring, and the weather held while some of the top fruit (apples, pears etc.) were in flower, so the bees were out on pollination duty. The cool summer will have meant less honeydew in the mix, meaning lighter honey, and less of the malty taste.
Every year the honey is different to the last, but it’s all good. Get in touch if you would like some of this year’s pure local honey.
[The photo is Echinacea purpurea which is in flower right now. It’s another plant that bees love, both for its pollen and nectar.]