Dec 14, 2022


If you do a little research, you can find out many interesting facts about bees and how they produce honey. I must admit, I thought I knew a thing or two about them, but there are so many more interesting little tidbits that were foreign to me. Take for example that they have 2 stomachs, and the ‘worker’ bees are all female and do ALL the work for the hive. The bee can fly 24 kilometers in an hour, have 5 eyes, and are classified as insects as they have six legs. They are the only insect in the world that can make food that a human can eat. The three kinds of bees in a hive are the Queen, The Worker, and the Drone. The male bees are drones and their sole purpose is to find a Queen to mate with and they, unlike the females, do not have stingers.

Recently, Annelle Lalonde, who lives near Farren Lake, was crowned ‘Queen Bee’ for her blend of honey. Thorough her entries at the Maberly and Perth Fair, her honey, that is harvested from Lanark County, won first place! Two fairs, two wins! This first place standing qualified her at the District Level and now she moves on to the Provincial competition! When you review the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies, there are strict guidelines and rules for both Provincial and District Competitions for the Pure, Ontario #1, White honey. I even learned that there is such a thing as an approved colorimeter that is used to assess the colour of the honey. Hmm.

The winner of the OAAS award receives a ribbon and the coveted title -best in show, and then is moved on to the Provincials. During Provincials, each entry is judged on Appearance, Clarity, and Container, with each one ranging from 10-45 points each. There is a monetary Provincial Prize for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

Congratulations to Annelle, a retired Public Servant, on this great achievement, especially as this is her FIRST year as a beekeeper!

Recently she was quoted as saying she has ‘a steep learning curve’, as she continues to learn and develop her south-facing hives to produce her high quality ‘Miel des Fleurs’ pure honey. She expressed that her membership in the Lanark County Beekeeper’s Association ‘has been very informative’ as she navigates the fascinating world of beekeeping while working to support natural ecosystems.

Keep an eye out for Miel des Fleurs to be at local markets and grocery stores in the coming year. For more information you can contact Annelle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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