Celebrate nature at The HIVE's 3rd annual Nature Day event

Gerardo Zavala

April 4

The HIVE's annual Nature Day event will return from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 1221 Harter Ave. in Woodland featuring a free and family-friendly day of about nature, celebrating National Garden Month and "squashing our carbon footprint."

Additionally, attendees will be able to participate in engaging workshops and hands-on activities for all ages and learn from presentations by local beekeepers, entomologists, farmers, environmentalists and horticulturalists.

"Nature Day grew out of our love and appreciation for the pollinators who sustain and support us all as well as a desire to transform The HIVE into a vibrant space for community learning and fun," Shoshana Zeldner, director of brand strategy for Z Specialty Food, stated.

According to a press release, some of the main attractions will include a guided honey tasting with Amina "Queen Bee" Harris, Uncle Jer's Bee Show, a pollinator garden tour, story time with Tuleyome, and learning activities with the California Master Beekeeper's Program.

"During this year's event, I'll be leading a guided honey tasting to help attendees of all ages notice each varietal honey's unique color, flavor, aroma and texture," Harris emphasized. "Everyone walks away with a new discovery."

If interested in learning more of viewing a schedule of activities and presentations, visit zspecialtyfood.com/event/nature-day-3.

Last year, El Dorado Hills resident Scott Hall attended the event with his two daughters, Rilynn and Emmersyn, after reading about it on social media.

"We love the outdoors and we love trying to grow native plants," he explained. "We have a backyard full of native plants ourselves so we figured we'd come out here and check it out."

Hall said he'd never been to The HIVE before but was pleasantly surprised by the educational opportunities the space provided for his children.

"I love how it's got the different vendors talking about the bees and the local native plants," he emphasized.

Gerald Johnson, who co-stars in Uncle Jer's Bee Show with his wife Ellen, performed two bee shows during last year's event and provided a see-through observation hive throughout the event that allowed kids to see how bee hives work.

Gerald Johnson (left) shows kids a see-through observation bee hive and explains the importance of bees to the environment Saturday, April 8, 2023, in Woodland. (Gerardo Zavala/Daily Democrat Archives)

"We're educators and we've traveled around for the last 20 years," he explained. "Our purpose is to educate the public about bees and honey."

The Johnsons have performed at schools, libraries and will be performing at the Woodland Honey Festival next month, according to Johnson.

Johnson argued that it is essential to teach people about bees because "it's estimated that almost half of our world's food supply exists because they do pollination."

He also argued that bees are particularly important for counties like Yolo, which have robust agricultural-based economies.

"They're essential because, without bees, there are literally no almonds," he stressed. "That's why the beekeeper, he or she, gets paid a lot of money for pollination of their almonds."

The Johnsons' interactive show discussed bees in history, pollination, honey production and harvesting, physical aspects of bees and the health benefits of honey using two puppets – Henrietta the New Bee and Beatrice the Older Sister Bee.

If interested in learning more about Uncle Jer's Bee Show, visit bee-show.com.

Josh Zeldner, nectar director for Z Specialty Foods, highlighted The HIVE's restaurant during a presentation he made at the event.

"The HIVE has a whole bunch of incredible food and drink options," he explained during the event. "We are Woodland's newest restaurant and we can use all that word of mouth."

The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

To learn more about The HIVE's restaurant, visit zspecialtyfood.com/the-hive-in-woodland-2.