It really is the bee's knees being on the rooftop of an urban icon like the Royal York Hotel sharing the skyline with nature's most critical being. Nope, not humans, in the big picture, we are dispensable.
Bees. For some time, the Royal York Hotel has housed their own honey bee hives from which comes honey that is used in their dining rooms. But, these hives were populated with an imported Queen and a managed system. Now, wild bees have a place to call home here too.
I never really thought about it but learned from the researchers for Burt's Bees that the variety of bee species had different living arrangements. It is only the yellow-and-black honey bees that make honey in the classic colony such as the one on the roof. Wild or "solitary" bees burrow in wood or sticks and create nests for themselves where they seek shelter and lay eggs. They are equally critical to our ecosystem as pollinators but don't hook us up with the sweet stuff.
In an effort to support the bee population, up on the roof, there is now a special "bee hotel" for these bachelors and bachelorettes which uses reclaimed wood and a variety of logs drilled with 8-inch holes. Wandering visitors can check in anytime they like and feed on the herbs and vegetables planted adjacent for easy food.
In an urban environment when there is more concrete than flowers, one would imagine this will be a terrific respite for the buzzers to settle in.
Here are some quick ways you can support the 30% of every mouthful of food these baby bumbles pollinate:
•Don't mulch all pathways-leaving some earth helps ensure that some nesting female bees have bare ground in which to burrow
•Leave some twigs, dead branches for nests
•Choose locally adapted native wildflowers or heirloom varieties which produce more pollen.
•Use few or no pesticides or at least spray when bees are inactive
•Plant in clumps of 5 or 6 plants of the same kind to attract bees
And no bee in it's right mind would mind if you used their liquid gold to make a killer martini like the one I tried at the event.
The Fairmont Royal York's Buzz-tini
2oz Forty Creek Canadian Whisky
¾oz Lemon Juice
1oz House made Fairmont Royal York Honey Syrup
Honey to rim glass
Rooftop Mint Leaf
-Shake Whisky, lemon juice and honey syrup with ice
-Rim glass lightly on the inside with honey
-Strain into glass
-Garnished with a rooftop mint leaf
Substitute local honey and mint should you not have access to The Fairmont Royal York's rooftop garden