Following the Bloom [Paperback]

Douglas Whynott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2004

Twelve months on the road with America's last cowboys: the migratory beekeepers.

In this absorbing work of literary journalism, Douglas Whynott introduces us to the world of migratory beekeeping, a world composed of clandestine state-border crossings, dodgy rigs, and unforgettable characters.

An updated edition of Whynott's classic account of his twelve months spent chasing the nectar flow with a few good men and women-and millions of honeybees-Following the Bloom tells the story of America's "last real cowboys." Overcoming catastrophic mechanical breakdowns, escaped bees that wreak havoc in suburban neighborhoods, and unfriendly state bee inspectors who threaten to burn entire bee colonies, these beekeepers truck hundreds of thousands of hives from state to state. From the cranberry bogs of Cape Cod and the blueberry fields of Maine to the clover fields of North Dakota and the orange groves of Florida, beekeeper and bee alike pursue the bloom.

Seamlessly combining the remarkable physics of the beehive, the political realities of commercial beekeeping, and the compelling adventures of America's migratory beekeepers, Following the Bloom pays homage to the hive, the honey, and the beekeeping cowboy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Whynott (Giant Bluefin) has been enamored with bees since he was a boy and his uncle kept a hive near an apple tree; later his passion led him to become a bee inspector in Massachusetts. From these experiences, and from research conducted by following his contacts—the migratory beekeepers—he has gathered a wealth of information on the fascinating habits of bees, the history of bee farming and the current state of beekeeping legislation. Whynott begins by explaining the discoveries, like ‘bee space,’ that allowed for the development of migratory farming, which allows beekeepers to move apiaries from location to location in search of "bloom." Whynott then travels to the blueberry barrens in Maine to Florida, to North Dakota clover country and finally to Washington, D.C., where Glenn Gibson, a honey lobbyist, tries to gain federal support for the migratory beekeepers who comprise the lion’s share of the honey market. With a relaxed, storyteller’s pacing, Whynott gets to know the migratory beekeepers, and much of the book’s pleasure lies in the colloquial dialogue about "plugged out" frames of honey and "bearded" hives. More than a book about bees per se, this volume presents a sociological narrative about truckers’ lives, and the (mostly) men who seem to fall by chance into beekeeping. This reprint of the 1991 edition includes a helpful glossary that explains bee terminology.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Library Journal

Whynott interweaves lively vignettes that personalize the story of migratory beekeepers with the hard facts of an industry that could well be pushed into extinction. Challenged by the logistics of transporting thousands of living hives by truck to follow seasonal nectar flows, apiculturists must also contend with mechanical breakdowns, deteriorating environments, pesticides, bee parasites, and government inspectors gassing diseased hives. Of special concern is the threat from Africanized (killer) bees. As rented honeybees are used in agricultural pollination, an invasion of their hives by the killer bees could affect the food economy. This unique book should appeal to a wide lay readership and is recommended for general collections.
- Frank Reiser, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N . Y .
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; 1 edition (January 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585422800
• ISBN-13: 978-1585422807
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #825,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Douglas Whynott's books take place in New England and tell stories about the work that people do there. His first book, Following the Bloom, follows Andy Card, owner of one of the largest migratory beekeeping operations in the US, through a season of commercial beekeeping while telling about the honeybee and issues in beekeeping. In Booklist a reviewer wrote of Following the Bloom, "This enthralling book...although factual, evokes transcendental contemplation and daydream." In Giant Bluefin Doug Whynott wrote about the bluefin tuna fishery on Cape Cod, and in The New York Times a reviewer stated that Whynott "celebrates the wonder of these fish most expressively in these pages." In A Unit of Water, A Unit of Time, Doug Whynott wrote about a boatyard in Maine owned by Joel White, son of E. B. White. A review in the San Francisco Chronicle praised this best-selling book by saying "Whynott attention transcends his ostensible subject until it becomes a profound look at the human condition." In his fourth book, A Country Practice, Whynott was behind the scenes at a rural veterinary practice in New Hampshire. A writer in the Portsmouth Herald stated that A Country Practice was a "book to be enjoyed by anyone who loves animals and a must for aspiring veterinarians." Booklist called it "the best introduction to veterinary life since James Herriott."

Doug Whynott has written for Smithsonian, Discover, Outside, The New York Times, and other publications. He lives in New Hampshire and spends his spare time hiking in the mountains or playing music--during his student years he was a concert piano tuner at the University of Massachusetts. He now teaches writing at Emerson College in Boston. You can read more about Doug Whynott at www.DougWhynott.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone interested in bees and beekeeping., July 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Following the Bloom: Across America With the Migratory Beekeepers (The Concord Library) (Paperback)

As a new beekeeper - or rather, as someone who has a beehive on her property - I have tried this spring and summer to read everything I can about bees and beekeeping. Whynott's stories are fascinating, and the background information provided is helpful even to a hobbyist. High School biology teachers should put this on their students' summer reading list; I know the school I teach at will!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating look at migratory beekeepers, cowboys of bees., July 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Following the Bloom: Across America With the Migratory Beekeepers (The Concord Library) (Paperback)

This book is fascinating, suffering only from being out of date in terms of the new crises in beekeeping. I wish Whynott or someone would revisit the subject of migratory beekeeping. These people drive semis loaded with beehives around the country! It is an adventurous life, to say the least. Whynott tells some wild stories. We owe the migratory beekeepers a lot. This is a quick read, but worth a try if you are at all interested in beekeeping.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book about bees and the people who work with them., April 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Following the Bloom (Hardcover)

Following the Bloom by Douglas Whynott, is a collection of amusing anecdotes of colorful migratory beekeepers and their truck-transported bee-cargo. Doug Whynott hitches a ride and applies his professor quality bee knowledge to the open road. Funny stories, told in a lyrical prose, plus expert information--a book to read and reread and treasure! New England readers may even envision on off-beat winter vacation in the South Carolina sun--as part of the crew.