On a beautiful, sunny May afternoon in 2019, several members of the East Jefferson Beekeepers participated in the annual Rhododendron Festival Parade in Port Townsend, Washington.
Our colorful mini-float featured a beehive with fanciful bees emerging from it, and was followed by beekeepers in typical white hive-inspection gear and others in costume, many carrying upbeat beekeeping slogans. Clusters of our handcrafted bees “flew” right along with the walkers.
At the very front marched two members proudly holding an official banner to identify our bee club.
One bee-meister darted out now and then with his smoker in hand to blow fragrant puffs of bee-calming fumes along the way.
The tall, roving mascot-bee was our goodwill ambassador, who charmed kids and grown-ups alike with his antics, handshakes and hugs. At one point, he encountered a giant sunflower-man from another float, striking up an instant friendship: bees love flowers, and flowers love bees!
By the end of the route, we’d had a lot of fun, received many nice comments and compliments, and won a beautiful rhododendron-pink ribbon as a “Rhody Parade Special Award”!
