LITTLE SWAN LAKE LADIES JUNE 2010 POTLUCK
by Barbara Galvin
Ladies of Little Swan Lake met on June 2,2010, at the pavilion to share potluck dishes and to enjoy hearing Tammy Camp, the owner of Camp Grove. Hostesses for the luncheon, Gail Maher and Bev VerSteeg, had decorated with a "bird 'n bloom" theme, so tables were covered in royal blue with ivy garlands where birds, birdhouses , and flower blossoms were nestled.
The buffet was a riot of colors and textures from ham meatloaf to chicken enchilada lasagna. Salads came in every shape from macaroni and rotini to lettuce and cole slaw. Baked beans, a typical tradition, flavored and blended with other dishes. Fruit salads also graced the table along with gelatin dishes, like rhubarb-jello topped with marshmellow cream, and strawberry cream jello with strawberries.
The ladies always have room for dessert and the dessert table was full. A 9x13 Jello cake with Cool Whip frosting looked as cool as it tasted. A tradional pineapple upside down cake not only satisfied the lady's sweet tooth but also brought back memories. A crisp served with Cool Whip and a fluffy lime pie completed the desserts.
After enjoying all the homemade variety of good food and tasty desserts, the ladies settled back to listen to Tammy Camp, who purchased Babcock's Orchard in 2004. Standing, behind a glass case filled with honey cone and bees, 'Tammy explained how initially the orchard had been purchased to be utlilized for FUN, like hunting and just plain "kicking-back" time. But, people asked Tammy and her family to bring back the apple trees.
Gradually, Tammy and her family began the restoration process. First, they rented bees to pollinate the fruit trees. After a while, the gentleman, who owned the bees, sold them to the Camps. Now, the family is also in the "BEE" BUSINESS.
Tammy continued her informative talk by explaining how only the queen bee lays eggs, while sister bees feed and clean. Drones only mate with the queen. About 1500 eggs are laid in a day by the queen bee.
Brood boxes hold 10 frames, like the one Tammy brought to show the ladies. Bees like hot and dry and sunny days, while too much rain and cool weather impact on honey production. Tammy also said frames are winterized by leaving enough honey for the bees to survive through winter.
Imagine one bee produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. Labor intensity of bees is demonstrated when Tammy also stated bees will visit 50-100 flowers in a single flight. Bee wings stroke 11,400 times per minute. The bee is the only insect that provides us with food!
The bees do not have long lives. The queen lives a couple of years. The drones live one -two years, and the workers can expect to be even shorter lived, because they are literally kicked out of the hive during winter time when survival requires down-sizing.
On the other hand, the queen receives royal jelly. Every 21 days a whole new group of bees is born.
Thinking about bees, only Tammy wears a bee suit for protection from stings. She said that her husband and sons do not. She also commented on the difference in people, who are not stung, like Ron Abernathy, State Bee Inspector.
Interesting fact was shared by Tammy about moving bees to a new location, which must be 5-miles away to create a new flight path. Yet, merely standing in the flight path of bees stops them, because the bees do not circle the obstacle. The flight path is straight. Tammy revealed how her husband Rich and sons, Tom and Leo, gathered bees who had swarmed.
So,CAMP GROVE now has 1,100 trees, which have been planted to preserve space and to make maintenance and pruning easier.
New apples have been added as Tammy and her family expand to sell apples and apple cider and honey. Go see the Camp Grove Orchard for yourself!
Ladies who enjoyed the presentation by Tammy Camp and lunch were: Nancy Hoppes, Dolores Bugyie, Judi Jones, Gail Maher, Judy 'Rogers, Bev VerSteeg, Barb Potter, Sharon Butler, Cora Lee Douglas, Chrissa Anderson, Mary Ingrassia, Rennie Smith, Barbara Galvin, Sandy Morrow, and Pat Bricker.
After reporting on the success of the Little Swan Lake ladies Rummage Sale, Nancy Hoppes explained how a book exchange was being started in the pavilion for Little Swan Lake ladies. Bring a book and borrow a new one, after writing your name and phone # down.
Get well wishes were also extended to Darlyne Ackers, who is recuperating from surgery at Cottage Hospital. Send her a card, please. She needs your prayers, and good wishes for a speedy recovery.
A Garden Walk will be held on July 11th, a Sunday, when artists will be celebrated along with artistic gardens. Roseville Garden Club is sponsoring this event. Tickets are $10.00. Please contact Nancy Hoppes if interested.
Remember, July and August luncheons are free and easy. NO format hostesses. NO formal decorating. Just good food and fellowship! Come and join the fun, July 7th and August 4th.
