On Sunday, August 25, Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum hosted its 6th Annual Honey Bee Experience, an event created to educate the community about the essential role of honey bees in our environment. The free event offered attendees, of all ages, a unique opportunity to observe these fascinating yet endangered insects up close, in a safe and engaging setting—a perfect addition to any summer bucket list.

Pinelawn has had a Honey Bee Hive Program since 2017, dedicated to supporting the honey bee population and promoting pollination by maintaining five honeybee hives that are home to over 500,000 bees. Over 315 community members attended this educational event. Master Beekeeper Steve Chen led the event, offering an in-depth Q&A session and a hands-on learning experience.

The event featured educational activities for children including honey bee-themed arts and crafts and a “Find the Queen” activity, where participants could search for the queen bee within an observation hive. Attendees learned the difference between yellow jackets and honey bees, had the chance to taste fresh honey directly from the combs, and tested their knowledge in a trivia game at the conclusion of each session, with a jar of honey awarded as the prize.

“Honey bees are vital to the health of our ecosystem. Our beautiful grounds here at Pinelawn benefit so greatly from the honey bees we have onsite who pollinate our trees and facilitate wildlife. Yet what many don’t realize is that honey bees are facing increasing threats. By hosting events like the Honey Bee Experience, we aim to raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of these incredible creatures,” said Justin Locke, President of Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum. “Our goal is to inspire our community to take small, meaningful actions that contribute to the preservation of honeybees and the environment they help sustain.”

Honey Bee Fun Facts:

• The honey bee is the only insect that produces food consumed by humans.
• A single hive can house between 40,000 to 80,000 honeybees.
• These incredible pollinators can fly up to 5 miles at speeds of 15-20 miles per hour.
• During a single foraging trip, a honey bee may visit between 50 to 100 flowers.

Honey bees, many wild native bees, and other pollinators are in decline. Some beekeepers have reported annual hive losses of 30% or more due to many causes including viruses, pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change. To further support the honeybee population, Pinelawn is offering 100% raw honey, harvested directly from its own hives during the event.

For more information about Pinelawn’s 2024 calendar of events, all of which are free and open to the public, click here.

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum

Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, located in Farmingdale, New York, is a non-sectarian cemetery prided on creating and maintaining a beautiful and serene environment where families can find tranquility and comfort.  Its open and expansive landscape features hundreds of acres of manicured grounds, unique architecture, flowing bronze fountains and flower-lined walks.  Its beautiful memorial gardens offer all who visit, scenic beauty where they can reflect upon their loved ones in peace. For more information on Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, or to schedule a tour of the property, visit www.pinelawn.com or call 631-249-6100.