Busy, Beautiful Bees
Bees. Busy, buzzing, bundles of energy. They flit from flower to tree, pollinating our world.
To some if us, the word bee can evoke fear, the technical term is called apiphobia. If you have an allergy to bee stings, the fear is real and founded. Unfortunately, there are those among us terrified of bees just because they think they may be stung. Much like my fear of spiders, it is highly unlikely that either would actually hurt any of us enough to deserve such high esteem in the fear department, never the less, our fear is absolute.
Getting past the fear of being stung, bees are truly amazing creatures. They help our environment by pollinating flowers and trees, ensuring a bountiful harvest in the summer and fall. They also supply us with delicious golden honey. Honey is nature's nectar and full of healing goodness.
For over a century, bees have been incorporated into our verbal expressions...a lot! The bees knees-- this is a very old saying originating from the 1800's. It meant something small and insignificant when it was first phrased, but somehow turned into being stylish or special. How about making a beeline? A straight, direct line from one point to another, much like a bee would fly. Bee in your bonnet-- feeling anxious, like a bee would be if it was in fact in your bonnet! In school, we used to have spelling bees. To be part of a bee is to be included in a gathering of industrious people doing something productive! Remember hearing about the birds and the bees? "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, let's do it. Let's fall in love". These were words from a country song years ago. If you are working like crazy, you are busy as a bee! Then there is the expression none of your beeswax! Perhaps that insinuates we should mind our own business!
All of these bee expressions are more than that, they are based on fact. Bees are busy, gathering pollen, and taking it back to their hive, taking care of their Queen and offspring, producing honey so they can survive during cold winter months. So the phrase busy as a bee is factual. Don't confuse Wasps and Yellow Jackets in this category of bees. Yes they sting, but they do not provide the benefits of their cousin the Honey Bee.
Whatever you may or may not think of bees, they are an important part of our world. So many have died off and the thoughts of living in a world without bees are frightening. They belong to a delicate eco system that provides plants and animals food to survive.
I encourage you to watch for these buzzing, busy bees. Leave some water in a shallow dish filled with little stones. This gives them the water they need. Try not to use so many chemicals in your garden or on your lawn. I bought some bee houses, YES bee houses. They encourage bees to produce a new nest in your yard. New nest, equals new bees, equals healthy environment.
Remember, bees are our friends. Until Monday, it's time for me to buzz off.
To some if us, the word bee can evoke fear, the technical term is called apiphobia. If you have an allergy to bee stings, the fear is real and founded. Unfortunately, there are those among us terrified of bees just because they think they may be stung. Much like my fear of spiders, it is highly unlikely that either would actually hurt any of us enough to deserve such high esteem in the fear department, never the less, our fear is absolute.
Getting past the fear of being stung, bees are truly amazing creatures. They help our environment by pollinating flowers and trees, ensuring a bountiful harvest in the summer and fall. They also supply us with delicious golden honey. Honey is nature's nectar and full of healing goodness.
For over a century, bees have been incorporated into our verbal expressions...a lot! The bees knees-- this is a very old saying originating from the 1800's. It meant something small and insignificant when it was first phrased, but somehow turned into being stylish or special. How about making a beeline? A straight, direct line from one point to another, much like a bee would fly. Bee in your bonnet-- feeling anxious, like a bee would be if it was in fact in your bonnet! In school, we used to have spelling bees. To be part of a bee is to be included in a gathering of industrious people doing something productive! Remember hearing about the birds and the bees? "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, let's do it. Let's fall in love". These were words from a country song years ago. If you are working like crazy, you are busy as a bee! Then there is the expression none of your beeswax! Perhaps that insinuates we should mind our own business!
All of these bee expressions are more than that, they are based on fact. Bees are busy, gathering pollen, and taking it back to their hive, taking care of their Queen and offspring, producing honey so they can survive during cold winter months. So the phrase busy as a bee is factual. Don't confuse Wasps and Yellow Jackets in this category of bees. Yes they sting, but they do not provide the benefits of their cousin the Honey Bee.
Whatever you may or may not think of bees, they are an important part of our world. So many have died off and the thoughts of living in a world without bees are frightening. They belong to a delicate eco system that provides plants and animals food to survive.
I encourage you to watch for these buzzing, busy bees. Leave some water in a shallow dish filled with little stones. This gives them the water they need. Try not to use so many chemicals in your garden or on your lawn. I bought some bee houses, YES bee houses. They encourage bees to produce a new nest in your yard. New nest, equals new bees, equals healthy environment.
Remember, bees are our friends. Until Monday, it's time for me to buzz off.
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