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A family affair
A note from Don...
For the first 15 years of my life I lived in Hantsport, Nova Scotia. Hantsport lies on the Avon River at the head of the Bay of Fundy, a body of water known to have the highest tides in the world. The Annapolis Valley is an exceptionally fertile piece of land bordering the Bay of Fundy. The "valley" used to be best known for its apples and Hantsport for its sailing ships. Both lie in zone 6 where the ocean breezes cool the summers and the nearby Gulf Stream warms the winter.
With agriculture all around, nearly everyone grew something, and many of us had backyard flower and vegetable gardens. Both my mother and father gardened, and so it was natural for me to join in. We grew every imaginable variety of fruit, from peaches to strawberries to an unusual sweet yellow cherry that always sold out at the local fruit stand. I can still see the white fruit blossoms stirring in the gentle spring breezes against a backdrop of sparkling spring sunshine!
...and Sharon...
I grew up in the nation's capital, Ottawa, Canada. Gardening is not something that I was familiar with as a child, except to water the occasional potted tomato plant on the front step. Agriculture was conducted at the Experimental Farm down the street, not at home! However, since moving to Rochester, Minnesota, I have adapted remarkably well to this busy, semi-rural environment that we live in.
As wife to Don and mother of Jessica, Julianna and James, I have numerous obligations that don't include gardening and keeping bees. However, as the children get older, I have more opportunity to help with the bees, and I am even thinking of getting my own beesuit soon! Like Don, I enjoy the challange of identifying and developing a product that is attractive to the discriminating customer. Making money from the product is secondary to me; my greatest reward is a compliment from the customer!
The children are the reason we grow flowers and keep bees
Jessica, Julianna and James each have their own gardens to care for and to enjoy. One has a shade garden, one has a sunny garden and the other has a garden under the oak tree. Don tries to select plants that grow in these diverse conditions, and then hopes the bees are interested. These gardens encourage the children to learn about the wonders of nature. Spring brings peonies to pick and nesting birds to watch, while summer gives them freedom to roam through fields of wildflowers. Autumn brings asters in full bloom and blanketed in bees and butterflies. It's exciting just to watch! Tall clumps of Silver Feather grass wave as the fall breezes warn of winter. Soon, a warm insulating blanket of snow will keep the garden warm until spring!Copyright 2002-2006 Johnston Honey
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Designed by Sputnik Design Studio
