Jenna Labossiere 5/10/22 Jenna Labossiere 5/10/22

The Buzz of Spring

Spring has the Thompson Okanagan buzzing, literally and figuratively, with the excitement for warmer weather, longer days, and the sprouting of new flowers. While residents and travelers are getting outside to enjoy the sun, the bees have begun to leave their hives and are hard at work pollinating the many flowers, vineyards, and orchards in the region.

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Spring has the Thompson Okanagan buzzing, literally and figuratively, with the excitement for warmer weather, longer days, and the sprouting of new flowers. While residents and travelers are getting outside to enjoy the sun, the 300+ Native bee species to the Thompson Okanagan have begun to leave their hives and are hard at work pollinating the many flowers, vineyards, and orchards in the region.

All bees play a crucial role in the world’s ecosystems. They support the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants, which serve as food and shelter for creatures large and small. Their contribution to such complex and interconnected ecosystems allows different species to co-exist. The hard work of pollinating not only benefits the plants, but also results in delicious honey. To produce one pound of honey approximately 2 million flowers need to be visited.

Hiking in Sun Peaks — Sun Peaks - Tourism Sun Peaks/Kelly Funk

Sadly bees are at risk due to climate change. One of the many effects on bees due to this crisis is that the plants are blooming earlier in the year and reducing food and shelter for the bees, putting many colonies at risk. Natural disasters like forest fires and flooding are also as a result of climate change and put bee habitats and food sources at risk.

Luckily, many businesses in the Thompson Okanagan celebrate bees, provide educational services about the insects, offer delicious honey products, and work to preserve the bees. These businesses are ready to welcome visitors and are excited for you to try the fruits of the bee's labor and teach you a little bit more about the value these insects bring to the planet.

Grand daughter and grand father exploring Planet Bee Honey Farm — Planet Bee Honey Farm - Nic Collar

Planet Bee Honey Farm - Vernon

Ed Nowek, the founder of Planet Bee Honey Farm, began his career in beekeeping when he was 16 years old. Throughout his career, Ed took his beekeeping skills all over the world. In 1997 Ed opened what was then, Bee World Industries, and continued to grow his company into what is now known as Planet Bee Honey Farm. Now, the business is ran by his two children who share their dad's passion to preserve and protect the honey bees in the Okanagan and the world.

Planet Bee Honey Farm is home to multiple honey bee hives, an interpretive garden, a honey tasting bar, and multiple local honey products ready for purchase.

Planet Bee Honey Farm Garden — Planet Bee Honey Farm - Jenna Labossiere

Meadow Vista Honey Wine - Kelowna

Meadow Vista Honey Wine produces award winning meads that are sourced from local honey bee hives. They produce multiple styles of mead based on the way the mead is made and what is in it.

Meadow Vista Honey Wines is passionate about protecting the local bee population and does its best to promote local beekeeping, increase awareness of bees, and provide education on bees.

La Petite Abeille - Naramata

This cidery loves bees and incorporates their honey in three of their ciders. Their name, meaning bee in French, is a token to the cidery’s acknowledgement of how important bees are to the orchards and the planet and maintains the tradition of the prominence of bees in French histroy as their name La Petite Abeille is The Little Bee in English.

The cidery is located on a Naramata farm called Blue Bee Orchard where you will find a working orchard, working bee hives, and Plot Twist Farm’s permaculture garden.

La Petite Abeille Cidery — La Petite Abeille - @lapetiteabeillecider

Honeyonyx Apiary - Falkland

Family owned and run Honeyonyx Apiary is a honey farm located in Falkland BC dedicated to raising healthy and happy bees to produce delicious honey products sold throughout the Okanagan. They protect the bees by housing their hives on their farm and spreading their knowledge about the insects.

Along with their Bee Yours Farm Store located off of Highway 97 in Falkland, you can find their honey at multiple retailers throughout the region.

Bee pollinating a flower in the Thompson Okanagan — Planet Bee Honey Farm - Nic Collar

Arlo’s Honey Farm Inc. - Kelowna

Opening on May Long Weekend, May 21st, Arlo’s Honey Farm welcomes you to enjoy the wonders of the bees and the products they create. Enjoy a tasting bar of their locally sourced honey, an education centre, and a tour of the education centre and the beehives from a safe distance.

Arlo’s Honey is harvested in the Okanagan, is 100% Pure, Unpasteurized, and loaded with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants.

Bees in their Bee Hive — Planet Bee Honey Farm - Jenna Labossiere

Jenna Labossiere 5/7/21 Jenna Labossiere 5/7/21

A Blooming Spring

It has been a blooming spring in the Thompson Okanagan. Enjoy some beautiful captures of the spring flowers and some fun facts to go along with them.

It has been a blooming spring in Thompson Okanagan with flowers of all kinds popping up all over. Here are some beautiful captures of spring flowers throughout our region and some facts to go along with them.

Mount Robson Provincials Park - @gingergirl7777

These beautiful Arctic Lupines are commonly found in alpine meadows, much like this meadow sitting next to Mount Robson.

One of the first sings that spring has sprung is seeing the Arrowleaf Balsamroot along the Okanagan Valley’s hillside.

With so many varieties of fruit in the Thompson Okanagan, spring is one of the most beautiful seasons as the valley is covered in blooming fruit trees.

The Arrowleaf Balsamroot is commonly found in the Southern Interior of British Colombia.

Knox Mountain, Kelowna - @rileyhendersonphoto

Not all buds on fruit trees are guaranteed to be pollinated in order to produce fruit.

The Arrowleaf Balsamroot is also called the Balsamorhizq Sagittata.

The roots of the Arrowleaf Balsamroot can be up to 8 ft tall.

Plum blossoms are a lot like apple blossoms and about the size of a nickel.

The Arrowleaf Balsamroot belongs to the sunflower family.

There are many pollinators consisting of species of birds, bats, small mammals, and insects.

The Arrowleaf Balsamroot can be as tall as 1‑2 ft.

Wild flowers can be important to vineyard farming practices as they can form part of a cover crop to protect the vineyard’s soil from erosion, maintain moisture levels, and attract pollinators.

Although not all that appetizing, all parts of the Arrowleaf Balsamroot are edible.

Apple, plum, orange, and some cherry blossoms are all white.

Pincushion Mountain, Peachland - @sawatzky.pam

If you get close enough, some say the Arrowleaf Balsamroot smells like chocolate.

The Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers grow best in full sun.

Peak bloom season for blossoms is normally at the beginning of April.

The Arrowleaf Balsamroot’s extensive tap root allows it to survive through fires and droughts.

—Written by Jenna Labossiere

Born and raised in Kelowna, Jenna loves being able to be a tourist in her own backyard. As a Brand Ambassador for the Thompson Okanagan region, she hopes to be able to showcase the region’s local businesses and natural attractions in order to encourage others to take the opportunity to enjoy.