At 01:52 AM 6/24/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Fellow Bee-Lers
>
>I just extracted 8 supers from 3 hives that have been on wild flowers and
>black berries.  I was surprised to see an extremely light honey.  The honey
>was lighter yellow than a manilla (sp.?) envelope.  Usually our honey is a
>golden brown not the light yellow color.  The honey is also a milder flavor.
>Greater than 90% of the cells were capped so I figure the moisture was right.
>
>We have had a really mild winter an a  pretty wet spring this year.  Could
>the extra rain have made the difference?  On the blackberries, I am talking
>5-7 shades lighter.  I don't know the color grading system so I will use
>something as visual as possible.  Blackberry honey is usually the color of
>wood with a light walnut stain, but this year the honey is the color of pine
>with a clear varnish.  No brown shade only the yellow to nearly clear/white.
>
>Other beekeepers in the area are seeing the same on wildflowers.  Many of
>the local buyers like the darker honey because they like the stronger taste.
>No supply of dark so far this year only the light colored stuff.
>
>Any comments will be passed on at the next SW Oklahoma Beekeeper's
>Association  meeting.
>
>Richard Barnes
>
Richard I to have noticed the light color of this years crop here in Midwest
City, also a friend of mine in Del City has observed the same thing. Must be
somthing with this year's climate. I was wondering if any one else in Okla.
had noticed this and several have.