Cutting the Mustard

A golden bee on golden mustard.

What could represent spring in California more than that? Well, besides the just-ended almond pollination season.

Bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey, manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis, took her queen bee-rearing class to Orland today to tour Olivarez Honey Bees, Inc. While admiring the commercial queen bee-rearing operation, we spotted honey bees foraging on the newly planted mustard. 

A beautiful spring day. Mustard plants gently swaying in the breeze. Honey bees gathering food for their hives.

If that doesn't cut the mustard, nothing does.