She’s the most regal queen
that ever walked the earth
She servants in the hundreds has
who depend on her for birth
Royal jelly fed to her
for a weighty amount of time
formed her different from the rest
and kept her in her prime
Bees are Nature’s gift to flowers
and to blossoming trees
Without them not as much beauty
dancing in the breeze
If their kingdom you would love
to honor and reverently bless
consume more organics and in your monarchical yard
spray chemicals much less
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[The larger bee — in the center of the top photo, with the gold marking placed on its back — is the Queen. In the bottom photo, young bee larva can be seen in the comb (that the worker bees have been feeding). Many thanks to Chad McGinnis for allowing me to photograph; Chad is the beekeeper of these fine bees.]
Queen bee and worker bees (bees of Chad McGinnis) Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2017
Bee Larva and Bees. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2017
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Wonderful Tom 🙂 Happy Friday!
Thanks, Beth! 🙂 Make it an amazing weekend!
Great photos! 🙂 And a lovely fun poem, that is also immensely informative! 🙂
Thanks much, Scifi! 🙂 That’s great to hear! 🙂
I’ve never paid particular attention to bees until recent years. Your poem and picture draw attention to them wonderfully well.
Bees have had a really tough time lately. I’m 65 years old… and when i was a kid there were bees everywhere. Now there are fewer… a lot fewer. Made-made farm and garden chemicals have a lot to do with it. We can do better!
Great photos Tom. We have a hive of bees in our yard. We get several quarts of honey each year. Love watching the bees collecting nectar. They are interesting little critters to watch.
Awesome, Peggy! 🙂 I used to keep bees many years ago when i lived in Kansas. Make sure you leave plenty of honey for them too, of course!
We have 2 supers on the top of the hive and only rob the top one. My husband had several hives when we lived in Arizona years ago.
🙂 Sweet!
Great pictures, very interesting….
Much appreciated, Joke! Stay chemical-free! 🙂
Informative as always, Tom and wonderful shots!
Thank you, Sandy! 🙂 Gotta love dem bees! 🙂
Yes, we do!
You are completely right, Thomas, that people shouldn’t use too many chemicals in their gardens and to plant flowers and shrubs that bees love. Monoculture is very bad for bees, too. We have too many rapeseed fields here. When I was young, at the edge of cornfields I could collect cornflowers and little poppies. Where have they gone? But I can calm you, bees have a lot of beautiful flowers in our garden and no chemicals at all. Have a nice day, regards Mitza
So good, Mitza, that your garden in chemical-free! 🙂 I sure wish more people were like you! Bees have had such a tough time lately. Like i was telling shoreacres, when i was a kid there were so many bees everywhere. Nowadays, they are in very low numbers. Humans can do better!
Nicely done, Thomas! Great photos and sweet poetry 🔆
Thank you, Lindy! 🙂 I know that you care about the environment a lot!
Such impressive photos! And words. 🙂 “Without them not so much beauty dancing in the breeze” …so true!
Yes, Nicole, a lot of people just don’t realize how important they are for fruit trees and field agricultural crops! Thank you! 🙂
Woow Tom, great capture, so beautiful! 🙂
Thanks, Marcela! And i only got stung 10 times while photographing them! Just kidding; there was no stinging at all from these very docile bees! 🙂
I will hail that queen any day! Great post Tom 🙂
Awesome pics!..