World Bee Day 2020 🐝

[LukasB]

Hey everyone,

hope you all doing well. As per last year we are celebrating the United Nations Bee Day again.

The UN designated 20 May as the day to raise awareness of the importance of these little pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development.

So the good news first: Our little brown and yellow friends are making a big comeback. The World’s Bee Population Is recovering During COVID-19 Lockdown. As the BBC reports: Fewer fumes and pollution particles from cars mean that bees can more easily smell floral scents that lead them to plants that need pollinating. And fewer cars on the roads also mean less drive by bee deaths.

And as many people think of bees as vicious stinging insects, let me show you how cute they actually are!!! I want to bless you all with a collection of super cute bee bums. You are welcome! 🌸 🐝

But we are far from ideal conditions. An estimated 80% of flowering plants and one-third of the world's food is pollinated by bees. So what can everyone of us do to help those honey-making rascals?

• planting a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year;
• buying raw honey from local farmers;
• buying products from sustainable agricultural practices;
• avoiding pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in our gardens;
• protecting wild bee colonies when possible;
• sponsoring a hive;
• making a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside;
• helping sustaining forest ecosystems

Our resident bee expert @TallTrees ( and proud owner of exactly 764 bees) could tell you even more about our flying pals. Let’s all help to make these cute little butts flourish! I am raising a glass of nectar - cheers! 🍹

If you want to read more about World Bee Day you can do so here.

[TallTrees]

Hi @Marjo 

It is really great that there is a Day for the Bees.

Cornflakes for you then!

Hope all is well with you ~ Lots of best wishes from me TallTrees

[Marjo]

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@TallTrees wrote:

Hi @Marjo 

It is really great that there is a Day for the Bees.

Cornflakes for you then!

Hope all is well with you ~ Lots of best wishes from me TallTrees

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Perfect idea, cornflakes! Unless @LukasB ruins them too somehow

All good here and hoping you and your bees are enjoying this amazing weather.

I looked at the list in the first post again and I wonder if any of you might have set up one of those "bee water fountains"? TallTrees most likely but it sounds like an easy way for us non-bee-keepers too to help out as well. I wonder if they also attract wasps though? 

[TallTrees]

Got water for birds and bees @Marjo
Yes bees happy finished their nests for this year. Weather was nearly perfect just a little cold snap early. Huge amount of pollen out for them and all other bees too very pleasing. Honey bees and bumble bees still working away on the flowers on every bush and plant. Love the buzzing in summer.
We do need wasps too definitely keep out of their way though.
I need the other bees, now mine have finished working, to pollinate the tomatoes I'm growing. Any bee will be ok 💤🙏

[Anonymous]

I’m devastated there were no toilet related jokes on here...

[pgn]

What a load of... Pantaloons (one for @TallTrees this 😉)

[TallTrees]

Wow now that's a worker and a half @pgn

You would want her on your team 😁
Thanks for that!

[Marjo]

Amazing close-up photo of a bee @pgn ! I don't normally like looking at close-ups of any insect really but some bee photos are very cute. I like the clear stripes in this one

[pgn]

Not my photo @Marjo, I snaffled it off Twitter - stunning isn't it?

[Marjo]

It makes me feel like I want to go out and spend time in the sunshine! 

[pgn]

This one made me laugh though... Even if allergic reaction to a bee sting is no fun: