It was all the buzz.

Thousands of bee and honey enthusiasts made a beeline for  the California Honey Festival, held last Saturday on the Yolo County Fairgrounds.

The annual festival, relocated this year from the streets of downtown Woodland to the fairgrounds due to a weather forecast cautioning heavy rain and wind, drew scores of smiles beneath the arched umbrellas.

Beekeeper Rick Moehrke, a retired Vacaville teacher, answered questions about bees in the Sacramento Area Beekeepers' Association booth.

American Honey Queen Kaelyn Sumner of Cecil, Wisc., a beekeeper and a senior at Kansas State University discussed queen bees, worker bees and drones. She is majoring in agricultural education and minoring in food science and entomology.

Charles McMaster, a U.S. Army veteran from Copperas Cove, Texas, headed the Hives for Heroes booth. The national non-profit service organization focuses on sustainability, conservation, and providing a healthy transition from service: "Through our national network of beekeepers, we provide connection, purpose, and healthy relationships, through access, resources, and funding for Active Duty, Veterans, and First Responders.">

Steve Hays, retired sheriff's deputy, Sacramento County and founder of Second Chance Beekeeping Reentry Service, chronicled the history of his program and how inmates are learning beekeeping and getting "a second chance." (See news story)

Alexis Herbert and Missy Rianda of the Honeybee Discovery Center of Orland, Glenn County, discussed the rich history of beekeeping in Northern California and sold bee products. The center "is a place for the public and schools to learn about honeybees and for the beekeeping community to display items that are part of beekeeping and its history," they related. Orland is considered the “Queen Bee Capital of North America.” Eighty percent of the queen bees raised in the United States are from Butte, Glenn, Shasta, and Tehama counties, known as "The Golden Triangle.”

Amina Harris, retired founding director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center and now the "Queen Bee" of her family's Woodland-based Z Food Specialty and The HIVE, offered guests "a taste of honey" from all over California. They also sold honey, including a family favorite, starthistle. Harris co-founded the California Honey Festival in 2017 with the City of Woodland.

Attendees tasted and purchased Hawaiian honey, with such varietals as Eucalyptus, macadamia, mango, Christmas bush, tropical blossom and wildflower, from "Queen Bee" Inna Eyrih, business owner of Hawaiian Honey AT&S, a company based in Hawaii (Keaau) and California.

GATEways horticulturist Rachel Davis of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden discussed pollinator gardening, focusing on native bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and hummingbirds.

This year's California Honey Festival lived up to its mission: to emphasize the importance of bees and to promote honey and bee products. The annual festival, co-sponsored by UC Davis, features educational presentations, kids' center activities, honey tasting, cooking demonstrations, a beer and mead garden, live music, vendors and more. 

Look closely at a patch of California golden poppies and you may see a sweat bee (genus Halictus) collecting gold pollen. The pollen basket is on the hind legs but you'll see "gold" also dusting the head and abdomen.

Native bee, commonly known as "halictid bee." Native plant. In fact, the California golden poppy, Eschscholzia californica, is the state flower.

And the rumor that it's "protected" and you'll get arrested if you pick a poppy along a roadside is inaccurate.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife sets the record straight on its website:  "It is often believed that there are laws prohibiting the cutting or damaging of the California poppy because it is the state flower. While there is no law protecting the California poppy specifically, California Penal Code Section 384a(opens in new tab) requires written landowner permission to remove and sell plant material from land that a person does not own, and removing or damaging plants from property that a person does not own without permission may constitute trespass and/or petty theft. However, these laws do not prevent the collection of California poppies on private land by the landowner. California poppies are a beautiful and easy-to-grow addition to your garden, and although you may choose to pick them from your property, they last much longer in the ground!"

Want to learn more about native bees? California has some 1600 species of wild or non-managed bees. Be sure to read California Bees & Blooms: A Guide for Gardeners and Naturalists. It's the work of University of California authors, all with UC Berkeley connections: Gordon Frankie, now professor emeritus, UC Berkeley; Robbin Thorp (1933-2019), UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor who received his doctorate in entomology from UC Berkeley; photographer Rollin Coville, who holds a doctorate in entomology from UC Berkeley, and Barbara Ertter, curator at the UC Berkeley-based  University Herbarium and Jepson Herbarium.

The Bohart Museum of Entomology is hosting an open house on bees, both wild and managed, from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 19 in Room 1124, Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane. It's free and family free. 

You usually see Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator of the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis Department of Entomology, in the insect museum, answering questions, guiding tours, or doing outreach at schools, festivals, fairs, open houses and other special events. 

She's right at home with a "Oh, my drawers" of insect specimens, and the live critters in the petting zoo--the Madagascar hissing cockroaches, stick insects, tarantulas and more...She's eager to communicate science and draw  interest in insects. 

On April 29, Tabatha Yang was at UC Davis Chancellor Gary May's residence to accept the Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Award for Exceptional University Management and Exceptional University Impact with 11 other outstanding staff.

UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, the 34-year director of the Bohart until her retirement on Feb. 1, accompanied her.

Sandy Batchelor, Human Resources WorkLife manager and awards committee chair, earlier said that Yang embodies "the spirit of engagement, innovation, and inclusivity that defines the university. With 15 years of dedicated service at the Bohart Museum, Tabatha spearheads a variety of educational initiatives aimed at demystifying and highlighting insects, spiders, science, and higher education." 

"Through open houses, classroom visits, fairs, festivals, and other outreach programs, she helps the museum connect with more than 10,000 people each year. Under her leadership, museum walk-ins, tours and tabling events provide opportunities for students, staff and faculty to engage in science communication, highlight research and connect with others."

Yang annually chairs the committee that hosts UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, a “Super Science Day”  that showcases 10 to 12 museums or collections and highlights UC Davis' research, collections and biodiversity, drawing thousands to campus. 

She is also the founder and director of Bio Boot Camps, an immersive experience that ignites passion and curiosity in teenagers from around the globe. These camps, held annually since 2011, except during COVID, offer a gateway to the wonders of ecology, scientific exploration, and campus life. Campers tour UC Davis and its museums and collections and embark on scientific explorations of the UC Davis Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, Quail Ridge Field Station, Bodega Marine Laboratory and Bodega Marine Reserve and UC Berkeley's Sagehen Creek Field Station. With needs-based scholarships, Tabatha ensures inclusivity, making dreams a reality for aspiring young scientists.

Tabatha, a Cornell University alumna, shares her science educational background with her husband, community ecologist and professor Louie Yang,  a Cornell alumnus who received his doctorate from UC Davis. He joined the UC Davis entomology faculty in 2009.

The list of recipients of the inaugural award:

Exceptional University Management

• Nichole Mahaffey, clinical trials data team supervisor and assistant director of PRMS, Comprehensive Cancer Center Office of Clinical Research
• Santana Diaz, executive chef, Food and Nutrition Services 
• Morgan Luthi, director of curriculum and educational technology, Office of Medical Education
• Wendy Lilliedoll, director of investigations, Office of Compliance and Policy
• Shannon Tanguay, budget director, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean's Office
• Jason Herum, diving safety officer, Bodega Marine Laboratory

Exceptional University Impact:

• Kelly Yurosky, pediatric bone marrow transplant coordinator, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
• Abigail Borbe, senior clinical research coordinator, Pediatrics
• Leah Galasso, technical project manager, Clinical Informatics
• Bill Tuck, fiscal officer, Physics and Astronomy
• Elizabeth Sturdy, director of mentoring and Academic Success Initiatives, Graduate Studies
• Tabatha Yang, Bohart Museum education and outreach coordinator, Department of Entomology and Nematology

Meanwhile, Yang is busily planning, scheduling and organizing more outreach activities. 

Next Open House. The next Bohart Museum open house is from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 19. The theme: "Bees, Both Wild and Managed." It will feature the research of university professors (more information pending). All open houses are free and family friendly.

The Bohart Museum is located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455Crocker Lane.  Professor Jason Bond succeeded Kimsey on Feb. 1 as the Bohart Museum director. He is the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, and the associate dean, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He also serves as president-elect of the American Arachnological Society.

Despite the weather forecast of heavy rain and wind, honey bees will still be "attending" the California Honey Festival.

They'll be safe and dry in the bee observation hives.

The free and family friendly event, co-sponsored by the University of California, Davis, takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 4, at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, 1250 East Gum Ave. Parking is free, a spokesperson said.

The festival traditionally takes place in downtown Woodland and draws a crowd of some 40,000.

The California Honey Festival emphasizes the importance of bees and promotes honey and bee products. It features educational presentations, kids' center activities, honey tasting, cooking demonstrations, a beer and mead garden, live music, vendors and more. Beekeeping organizations will answer questions about bees and showcase bee observation hives. 

Speakers at presentations in Waite Hall will include GATEways horticulturist Rachel Davis of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, who will speak from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

“I'll be talking about pollinator gardening, focusing on native bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and hummingbirds,” Davis said. “The My Habit Horticulture Learning by Leading™ and UC Master Gardener team will be tabling about Climate-Ready Gardening, with an emphasis on biodiversity and gardening for pollinators. We want to equip gardeners with tools to create beautiful, habitat-supporting landscapes that are primed to thrive in the face of our changing climate.”

The line-up of speakers at Waite Hall:

11 to 11:30, 2024 American Honey Queen Kaelyn Sumner

11:45 to 12:15: Cache Creek Conservancy, Jolene Jindrich

12:30 to 1 p.m. SugarBee Apples, sponsor of the California Honey Festival

1:1 to 1:45: Hives for Heroes, Charles McMaster

2 to 2:30: California Beekeeping Federation “The Truth About Honey Bees, Almonds and a Partnership That's Sweeter Than Honey" with Trevor Tauzer (Tauzer Apiaries) and Kelli Evans (Blue Diamond Growers)

2:45 to 3:15: SugarBee Apples

3:30 to 4 p.m.: UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, Rachel Davis

4:15 to 4:45: Honeybee Discovery Center, Nicole Johansson

5 to 5:30: 2024 American Honey Queen Kaelyn Sumner

Amina Harris, who retired last June as director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center, co-founded the honey festival in 2017 with the City of Woodland. Last June she "retired" to the family business, Z Food Specialty and The HIVE, Woodland, where her title is "Queen bee."  At the Z Food Specialty booth, visitors can sample honey and view a California map “where all the honeys are,” Harris said.

The UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program, which uses science-based information to educate stewards and ambassadors for honey bees and beekeeping, will not be participating this year.  But science-based information on bees will be provided by the California State Beekeepers Association and the Sacramento Area Beekeepers' Association. 

Capsule information on some of the organizations or speakers:

American Honey Queen, Kaelyn Sumner
American Honey Queen Kaelyn Sumner of Cecil, Wisc., is a senior at Kansas State University majoring in agricultural education and minoring in food science and entomology. She traces her interest in beekeeping to the FFA, where she was nationally recognized for her specialty animal production project and her agriscience fair research. The American Honey Bee Program, part of the American Beekeeping Federation, which  educates and advocates for beekeepers and United States honey consumption. 

Cache Creek Conservancy, Jolene Jindrich 
The Cache Creek Conservancy is a non-profit organization founded in 1996. Its mission is to restore, preserve and protect the Cache Creek watershed. The focus of the Conservancy's work has been riparian restoration along a 14-mile stretch of the Lower Cache Creek as mentioned in the Yolo County's Cache Creek Resources Management Plan. 

Jolene Jindrich helps care for the Tending and Gathering Center (TGG). She holds a bachlor's degree in microbiology from Humboldt State University, where she studied genetics, plant physiology and cell biology and spent time volunteering in biology and chemistry labs. She works with the Habitat Restoration Manager and the TGG Steering Committee to tend desirable native species, manage non-natives, maintain the trails and generally improve both the visual aesthetics and habitat value. 

Hives for Heroes, Charles McMaster
Hives for Heroes® is a national non-profit service organization focusing on sustainability, conservation, and providing a healthy transition from service. Through our national network of beekeepers, we provide connection, purpose, and healthy relationships, through access, resources, and funding for Active Duty, Veterans, and First Responders.  

McMaster, of Copperas Cove, Texas, is the connections director of Hives for Heroes, a U.S. Army veteran, and a six-year beekeeper. He devotes much of his time as a member of the board of directors of the Texas Beekeepers Association.

UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, Rachel Davis  
“The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden spans the campus's 5300-plus acres and includes the historic Arboretum – a 100-plus acre campus and regional amenity comprised of demonstration gardens and scientific collections as well as the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve – a rare stream and grassland ecosystem managed for teaching, research, wildlife and habitat protection.”--Website

Honeybee Discovery Center, Nicole Johansson 
The Honeybee Discovery Center, currently located at 501 Walker St., Orland., Glenn County, Calif., is designed to teach the public about honey bees and the rich history of beekeeping in Northern California, according to its website. "The Center is a place for the public and schools to learn about honeybees and for the beekeeping community to display items that are part of beekeeping and its history."

Northern California is known for its queen bee rearing, with tens of thousands of queen bees produced annually. Orland is considered the “Queen Bee Capital of North America.” Eighty percent of the queen bees raised in the United States are from Butte, Glenn, Shasta, and Tehama counties, "The Golden Triangle.” Orland is also the 40th “Bee City, USA” with a commitment to creating greater awareness and an environment that protects honey bees and other pollinators.  Yvonne Koehnen of the C. F. Koehnen & Sons Inc.,  originated the idea of the Honeybee Discovery Center. The Center, which includes a museum, is open the first consecutive Friday and Saturday of every month from 3 to 6 p.m.