Walking through the paths at Lewis Ginter during the summer, you’ll notice bees hastily flying around the flower beds.  If you’re like me, you’ll quickly walk (or run) in the opposite direction.  However, I have to admit there is something uniquely beautiful about watching bees land on flowers. 

Of course, the bees wouldn’t bother you if you don’t bother them.  Here are some quick facts about the Garden’s frequent visitor.

Quick Facts:
1. There are 250 species of bumblebee worldwide.
2. Estimates suggest that the number of bumblebee species in lowland Britain have reduced between 50 and 70% since the 1950s.
3. The queen bee is the largest bumblebee followed by the female worker bee with the male (drone) bee being the smallest. Bumblebee workers can weigh between 0.04g and 0.60 g, whilst queens can weigh as much as 0.85g.
4. Depending on the species of bumblebee, worker bee’s tongues can vary in size from 6mm to 12mm.
5. Bumblebees have four wings; the two rear wings are small and are usually attached to the fore wings by a row of hooks called hamuli.
6. Bumblebees will pollinate flowers, fruit and vegetables in the garden, but produce very small amounts of honey.
7. Bumblebees live in smaller groups than honey bees and do not tend to swarm.

The summer is the perfect time to enjoy the Garden and the bees.

Lindsay Silva is the PR/Marketing intern at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden this summer.

Thanks for the homage to the lovely bee. I hope with bees in the news, people everywhere will consider providing more habitat for them in their yards. I love to see them at their work. And in all the years of intensive gardening in my yard I haven’t been stung once!

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