Sean, now that is interesting that you say that about the bees not liking the dandelions. We hear all the time about the dandelion bloom and bees. My bees have zero interest in the dandelions too.
My theory on this is that there are so many other trees in bloom that the dandelions hold no interest. We have so many wild fruit trees and many other trees blooming like crazy right now, probably more interest to the bees than the pretty little dandelions. I do see other pollinators on the dandes, they love them. I think that they are the little teeeny tiny bees that always go in my swimming pool. They look like them anyways. The ones that go in the pool are a real nuisance. They are so tiny and pack quite a little sting. The kids are always getting stung by them, but their venom is nothing compared to the honeybee, so they just go ouch and carry on their way. I always try to skim them off as best that I can and I tell the kids to keep the skimmer close at hand and remove the little bees when they go in the pool.
The bug that bugs me that goes into the pool and bugs everyone is the one that I call the maneater, the boat bug, whatever. I have never been bit by one, but I think that they bite. They fly into the pool, swim underwater all the time, are fast and very hard to catch. When I catch a boat bug if it gets away before I squish it (yep, I squish bugs, my husband eats them on dares), the boat bug flies away. It looks like a little guy in a row boat in the water, the legs (or wings, whatever it is) looking like oars. I am sure that everyone has these critters.
Ooops, lost the topic, back to dandelion wine. I picked two buckets, but they are still in my fridge. I haven't got around to buying some white grape concentrate so I think that I am going to use some cherry juice that I extracted from cherries last year. I am thinking the dandelion wine will not be clear, but maybe a dark one. That throws a different swing on the thought of dandelion wine, but then improvision is a good thing too. I have lots and lots or rhubarb, too much actually, never thought about making wine with that, but it sounds delicious. I had some raspberry wine the other day my friend made out of excess raspberries that she had frozen from her garden lasat year. Man, now if that wasn't a treat for the palate. I will have excesss of raspberries this year too. Guess it is gonna be a year of wine making. Best of a wonderful, beautiful day, good health to all. Cindi
