Bees at the county fair”
While there is a live honey bee exhibit at the Wayne County Fair, by far, most of “the bees” are yellowjackets buzzing the garbage containers. As I was enjoying some barbequed chicken cooked by a local business association, a yellowjacket brazenly landed on my plate and began to enjoy some apple sauce. I gently shooed it away and it promptly went to a neighboring diner. He abruptly said to anyone within hearing distance, “Where are all these bees coming from?”
A young J. Tew would have taken the bait and defended bees, but an older J. Tew just kept quietly eating his chicken dinner. But I mentally noted that, forever more, bees will get the blame for what wasps and hornets are doing.
J.E. Tew — An old house painter
Many seasons ago, after putting the task off for years, I finally decided that I would paint my house. I don’t have a particularly large house, nor is it very high (unless you are the one at the top of the ladder). About ten years ago, I was confident that I was up for the job. As per the common instructions on how-to TV programs, I made the trip to the home improvement store where I bought the various home-painting gadgets. I grew up working in my dad’s paint-supply business; therefore, I have painted quite a bit throughout my life.
I moved to an entomology position and left the paint business for many years. When my own house needed painting, I briefly returned to the house-painting business. I was certain that someone would have come up with something to make the task nearly effortless. Nope. The best bet was still a good 4” nylon brush and a heavy-duty 9” roller. You add the labor — which has not changed. I did the job right. Lots of caulking and three heavy latex coats. I don’t want to do this again any sooner than I must.1
The way bees fit in
I love honey bees, and I respect most other bees, wasps and hornets. On those perfect seasonal days that come and go during the year, I enjoy the natural sound of bees busily buzzing about my bee yard. On such days, I congratulate myself for contributing to the insect pollinator population and being environmentally sensitive …
