Bees in our Bonnet
April 12, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
“Bees in our Bonnet” at Bonnet House with Joanna Diamond
This exciting class will cover topics ranging from little-known but fascinating facts about honey bees, and why they are so important as pollinators, and we will discuss why, instead of us being afraid of bees, they should be afraid of us. We will dispel myths and misconceptions about bees, talk about why honey bee populations are declining, the facts behind swarms and swarming, and what you can do to help bees.
We will go behind the scenes of live bee removals and will discuss what is involved with being a beekeeper; in particular, if you’re afraid of bees, can you still become a beekeeper? We will have a short overview of Orchid Bees, followed by an introduction to the wonderful world of honey, including how and why bees make honey, why the honey industry is so controversial and filled with fraud, and what honey is best.
We will wrap up the event with a honey-tasting session. Raw wildflower honey will be available to buy after class, as well as Orchid Bee Feeders and Honey Bee Revival Kits for those poor, tired bees you see on the ground.
About Instructor Joanna Diamond:
Born and raised in South Africa, Joanna’s goal is to save as many honey bees as she can. Having volunteered for four and a half years for a bee Rescue & Removal charity, she has assisted with countless bee removals, is a registered Beekeeper, and has bee hives in her garden (which is a Certified Wildlife Habitat). She works closely with a South Florida beekeeper and live bee removal specialist whom she highly recommends for live bee removals. Joanna’s message is that honey bees are our best friends and full-time unpaid employees, working tirelessly for our benefit for no reward, they are misunderstood and feared unnecessarily, struggling to survive and we need to do everything we can as a global community to help them.
Saturday, April 12
10:00 am-12:30 pm
Island Theater
$25 members/$35 non-members (All sales are final and non-refundable)