Emma Scott Garden Club learns about bees
ELKINS — The Emma Scott Garden Club kicked off its new program year with a visit to S & T’s Bees to learn about the importance of bees in the garden.
Stephanie Bender, co-owner of the downtown Elkins business, offered a tour of the store, located at 222 Davis Ave., and presented club members with a list of recommended plants to improve bee forage in the Randolph County area. Members were encouraged to include bee-friendly plants in their gardens to sustain the bee population.
Bender emphasized that bees suffer through a “dearth period” or shortage of food that can last for three to four weeks and usually occurs from the second week in July to the second week in August. This period lasted longer this year since many plants bloomed earlier and bees consumed 80 percent of their food supply early in the season.
Bender noted beekeepers have been supplementing their colonies’ diet with sugar water, fondant and other sources that sustain bees. Despite this effort, it is expected that there will be a great loss of honeybees this year.
One of the many roles of S&T’s Bees is to provide instruction on the care of bees and to understand their important role in agriculture and the environment. Beekeeping has become an important industry in West Virginia, with more than 1,500 registered beekeepers in the state. In 2015, West Virginia produced the most honey per capita of any other neighboring state.
The Randolph County Apiculture Association, an active beekeepers association within the county, is planning to plant trees at Riverbend Park to improve bee foraging opportunities.
After Bender’s presentation, the club hosted a short business meeting. President Pat Mayes said there is a wide variety of future events that warrant club involvement. Members were encouraged to become involved in future community activities.
Member Bobbi Trimboli encouraged those in attendance to help with the Scarecrow Festival beginning Saturday. More than 100 scarecrows will be placed around downtown Elkins to celebrate the fall harvest season. The club will provide a scarecrow, appropriately named “Miss Emma Scott.”
Donna Isner and Joann Gabel reported on the repair and replanting of the Blue Star Memorial sign and flower bed that was damaged over the summer. Terra Flora Landscaping plans to complete the rehabilitation of the bed by mid-October. Bob Snelson will repaint the sign and install it by that same time period.
Trimboli also provided an update on student gardening projects at the Elkins Mountain Schools. Students are learning how to harvest honey and plant with hydrogels, while continuing their ongoing work with community gardens, plus adding floral containers to their campuses.
Member Ken Hanscom recognized Katy McClane, who received “Volunteer of the Year” from the Randolph County Community Arts Center.
The next meeting of the Emma Scott Garden Club will take place Oct. 10 at the Railyard Restaurant in Elkins. The club will join several regional clubs for the Tygart Valley District meeting of the West Virginia State Garden Club.
Current President Carolyn S. McCafferty will be the guest speaker, providing state and national level updates. The afternoon speaker will be Dr. Crystal Krause, who will present the results of a local pollinator survey.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the meeting will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a registration fee.
The Emma Scott Garden Club welcomes new members at any time, whether gardening is a passion or just a pleasant hobby. More information is available by contacting membership chair B.J. McKenzie at 304-614-3079.