The honey flow season for Manuka generally peaks in the summer, though it varies significantly by region and by Manuka tree variety.  In New Zealand, if you wish to see Manuka flowers, there are even varieties that bloom in mid-winter.  The most spectacular blooming occurs during the Manuka season, which also differs depending on the region and type of Manuka tree. The flowers range in color from white to pink, with some striking mutations that approach red. These are sold as ornamental  garden varieties, but they secrete very little nectar. To obtain high-activity Manuka honey, the flowers must be white and have single petals.

The Incanum variety, known for its high activity, has pure white flowers. Manuka flowers with even a hint of pink are less likely to produce  functional Manuka honey. In areas where pink flowers bloom, even placing beehives there would not yield honey with the desired properties. Once, I was having coffee at the Starbucks in my hometown’s Hamamatsu Castle Park. Japanese-style public restroom nearby,  I noticed a potted Manuka plant in full bloom in the flower bed. I remember feeling unexpectedly delighted by this discovery—it was a  double-flowered variety with red blossoms. It seems these ornamental, cultivated Manuka plants are also available in Japan. The encounter  lifted my spirits, and my thoughts wandered back to New Zealand… I was wondering if the hives set up in the Manuka forest were thriving, with the bees in good health.

I often find myself wondering if they have enough food to last through the winter’s chill… My thoughts would drift from the sweltering  heat of Hamamatsu Castle Park to the beekeeping site deep in the mountains of New Zealand in midwinter. As I mentioned before on this blog, beekeeping falls under the classification of animal husbandry. It’s said that when you raise living  creatures, you can’t completely distance yourself from them, and beekeeping is no exception, though the degree may vary. It’s only natural that  I worry about their well-being. Each time significant weather changes occur—be it heavy rain or strong winds—I feel anxious, but  whenever I see them buzzing happily around the apiary, I always breathe a sigh of relief. I believe this sentiment is shared by cattle and sheep herders as well.