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READING 5 C1-C2 ADVANCED A buzz at a hotel 0/2
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Lecture1.1
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Quiz1.1
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READING 5 C1-C2 ADVANCED A buzz at a hotel
A buzz at a hotel
High above midtown Manhattan, the 20th floor roof of the Waldorf Astoria is buzzing with activity. The exclusive hotel has six beehives on its roof. According to the Waldorf´s executive chef, the hives produced more than 250 pounds of honey in 2013.
The honey is an ingredient in their pastries, ice cream, salad dressings, and soups, and in many of their main-course dishes. “It´s great for us to have our own source of honey, we use it in all of our restaurants.”
The beehives share the rooftop with a garden. Flowers such as daisies or carnations, herbs (parsley, rosemary…), tomatoes, strawberries, apples, and other fruits and vegetables (leeks, turnips, cabbage, celery…) grow in the garden. Having flowers nearby is good for honeybees. It gives them close sources of nectar, which they need to make honey and to survive. The type of flower a bee collects nectar from is what it gives the honey its special flavour.
When the weather turns colder, the Waldorf bees´busy season starts to wind down. Bees are most active in the spring and summer. In the winter, the insects stay in their hives and don´t move around much.
It´s a sweet city
The Waldorf´s rooftop is just one of many in New York City that have beehives. Coté is president of the New York Beekeepers Association. “Beekeeping is a popular hobby throughout the city and in other cities around the world,” he says.
A law once banned beekeeping in New York City, but it was dropped in 2010. Since then, New Yorkers have set up hives and welcomed honeybees. “It´s nice to be able to connect to nature when you are in the city.”