Zion Cemetery is proud to announce an exciting new addition to our grounds: bee hives! In collaboration with Bee Found, a non-profit organization based in St. Louis, we have installed and will maintain these hives as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting biodiversity and environmentally friendly practices. Bee Found is dedicated to promoting social beekeeping by offering low-cost hives to new beekeepers, including veterans and first responders, with the goal of fostering a lifelong passion for beekeeping.
Buzzing with Excitement: Italian Hybrid Bees
Our new residents are Italian hybrid bees, known for their gentle nature and exceptional honey production. These bees are a cross between the Italian bee (Apis mellifera ligustica) and other strains, combining the best traits of each. One fun fact about honey bees is that a single bee colony can pollinate over 300 million flowers each day! These diligent pollinators will thrive on the clover that carpets our cemetery grounds and the native bee garden recently planted by LandCare, which surrounds the hives.
Enhancing Biodiversity at Zion Cemetery
Zion Cemetery has always been a place of reflection and remembrance, deeply rooted in St. Louis history. Now, we're also becoming a hub for biodiversity. By introducing bee hives, we're not just enhancing the beauty of our landscape; we're contributing to the health of our local ecosystem. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants, which in turn supports other wildlife and promotes a healthy environment.
CeCe McCoo, our Executive Director, shared her excitement about this new initiative: “We are thrilled to host bees at Zion Cemetery. Their presence is a testament to our commitment to environmental stewardship, and we look forward to our first harvest of Zion Honey in 2025.”
Fun Facts About Bees and Their Environmental Impact
Bees are fascinating creatures with remarkable capabilities. Did you know that bees can communicate with each other through a series of dances known as the "waggle dance"? This dance conveys information about the direction and distance to flowers rich in nectar. Additionally, bees are capable of flying up to 15 miles per hour and visiting around 50-100 flowers during a single trip out of the hive.
The impact of bees on our environment cannot be overstated. They are responsible for pollinating about one-third of the food we eat, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. By ensuring the health and proliferation of bee populations, we support agricultural productivity and biodiversity.
A Tradition of Community and Care
Zion Cemetery has a long-standing tradition of serving the St. Louis community. Since our founding, we have been dedicated to providing a peaceful resting place for loved ones while also giving back to the community in various ways. Our partnership with Bee Found and the introduction of bee hives is a continuation of this legacy.
We invite you to visit Zion Cemetery and witness the vibrant life that our new bee residents bring to our grounds. As we look forward to the future, we remain committed to enhancing our environment and supporting initiatives that benefit our community and the planet.
Stay tuned for more updates on our beekeeping journey and the anticipated debut of Zion Honey in 2025!
Let's work together to make our world a greener, more sustainable place. 🌱🐝
For more information on our beekeeping initiative or to learn how you can support Bee Found, please visit our website or contact us directly.
Comments