Baltimore Honey Harvest: How Each Bloom Shapes Our Summer Flavor
Every summer, something magical happens in the heart of Baltimore — and it starts with the flowers of Patterson Park. As the warm months arrive, the park bursts into color, drawing pollinators from all around. For our bees at Mary Bee Honey Co., these blooms are more than beautiful scenery — they’re the source of our most anticipated seasonal treat and one of the most unique small-batch Baltimore honey releases of the year: our Summer Honey Drop.
From Bloom to Jar
This raw summer honey is dark amber in color and has a warm flavor with natural notes of roasted almonds and toffee. It’s the result of weeks of patient, precise work — not just by us, but by our tireless bees. Throughout late spring and early summer, they gather nectar from a changing mix of urban blooms. This year, alongside the flowers of Patterson Park, we’ve noticed an abundance of herbs — basil, mint, and lavender — in community gardens and backyards across Baltimore. These fragrant plants don’t just attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hoverflies; they’re also a gardener’s secret weapon, known to naturally help keep rats away and protect the rest of a garden from being eaten.
Once the nectar is collected, the bees store it in their hives, fanning it with their wings until the moisture content drops to just the right level. Then, they seal it with a wax cap — nature’s perfect storage method. When the timing is right, we harvest the frames, carefully extract the honey, and jar it without over-processing, so every drop retains its natural enzymes and rich, complex flavor.
Why Patterson Park (and Baltimore’s Herbs) Make This Honey Special
The beauty of local Baltimore honey is that it reflects its environment. The flavor of our summer honey is deeply influenced by what’s blooming — and because Baltimore’s floral and herbal landscape changes year to year, no two summer harvests taste exactly the same. This year’s nectar mix offers a full-bodied, golden-amber profile with warm, nutty undertones and a smooth, caramel-like sweetness. Whether drizzled over yogurt, stirred into iced coffee, or enjoyed straight from the spoon, it’s a taste of the city in full bloom.
Seasonal, Limited, and Local
Our Summer Honey Drop is a small-batch release — once it’s gone, it’s gone until next year. By choosing local Baltimore honey, you’re not only getting unmatched freshness and flavor, but also supporting pollinator health, urban green spaces, and sustainable beekeeping practices right here in Baltimore.
Get Your Baltimore Honey Before It’s Gone
The 2025 Summer Honey Drop will be available soon online and at select Baltimore pop-up markets. Keep an eye on our site and social media for the official release date — and be ready to bring a taste of Patterson Park (and a hint of Baltimore’s backyard herbs) into your home.