Each year as we prepare the gardens for a new season, I look back to photos of earlier years to find the growing pattern of each garden.

This is one of our videos from last season of a carpenter bee at work in the coneflower garden. He is harvesting the nectar and pollen. Close up view of the body, head, and legs helps find the difference between the carpenter bee and the bumble bee. My granddaughter named this carpenter bee “BeeWinkle!”

My granddaughter told me I was brave since I get up close and personal with the carpenter bees when photographing or filming! Helping the little ones to understand the habits and nature of the carpenter bee has increased their enjoyment of watching nature at work. The main point they now understand about these big, hairy creatures is that the males do not have a stinger and the female only stings when her nest is threatened.

Bee Happy! Don’t Worry!