Bees are incredible insects and I consider them to be our friends, not only do they make incredible honey but they’re also really important to plants, animals and humans alike. Bees transfer pollen between flowering plants and this pollination helps plants to grow, breed and produce food. Most of the plants we eat rely on pollination, especially by bees.
Here are some facts about bees:
- The Queen bee lays up to 2000 eggs per day. – Eliza aged 6 from Chalk Farm.
- An average bee will make a 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. – Bobby aged 6 from Watford.
- Bees communicate with each other by dancing. – Ben
- Honey bees have been known to fly up to 8 miles from their hive, although more normally the foraging area around a beehive extends approximately two miles.
- One bee has to fly about 90,000 miles (three times around the Earth) and gather nectar from two million flowers to make one pound of honey.
And here’s a version of the story that Danyah shared with us all, so you can share the story again with your family.
King Solomon and The Bee
Once upon a time there was King who lived in a splendid palace, governing over his kingdom with kindness and generosity. King Solomon was known throughout the land for being the wisest of men.
One day he stood on his balcony, looking out across the palace grounds, wondering about the day ahead, pondering the many questions he had been given that needed answers. Suddenly a tiny bee landed on the end of his nose and stung him.
Now, it was said that King Solomon could speak many languages, including those of the beasts, birds of the air and fish in the sea. Thus he spoke to a young bee.
“Ouch!” cried King Solomon, touching his sore nose. “You stung me!”
“I’m so sorry,” said the tiny bee, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, you were standing so still and smelling so sweet that I thought you were a flower. It was an accident, please don’t punish me”.
King Solomon was wise enough to know that he should not punish someone for making a mistake and he immediately forgave the tiny bee.
“Thank you” said the bee. “One day I’ll repay your kindness”, and with that she circled three times above King Solomon’s head before flying away.
The King soon forgot about the little bee as he went about his daily work.
One hot sunny day the Queen of Sheba came riding from a distant land to visit King Solomon. It had come to her attention that King Solomon was very wise, perhaps the wisest man in the world. She had come to test him with the trickiest riddles and puzzles she could find.
As they sat together the King answered every challenge Queen Sheba set him and she was almost at the end of her collection of puzzles when she asked that 7 bouquets of flowers be brought to her. They were beautiful, however they were all hand-crafted, made by the finest craftspeople from the most exquisite silks, except for one bouquet which was fresh and real.
“Now, Your Majesty,” she said smiling, “tell me which is the bouquet of real flowers.”
King Solomon wondered, he thought and could not answer. Each bouquet looked perfect.
“Bring them closer to me” he asked, but the Queen laughed mischievously.
“Oh, no, Your Majesty! You must answer from this distance. If they came closer, you would be able to smell the flowers.”
It looked like he might not be able to pass this test when the king heard a faint buzzing sound, there was a tiny bee circling above his head, unbeknownst to the Queen and courtiers who hadn’t seen or heard the little creature. The bee then buzzed above the bouquet made of real flowers.
King Solomon knew now which was the real bunch of flowers! The Queen of Sheba was amazed but realised that King Solomon really was the wisest of men.
The King thanked the little bee for her help. He knew that even the wisest of us needs help from our friends and that kindness has a way of being repaid a thousandfold.