I reprise this post every year on this day, and today it just happens to fall on Saturday, so I can make World Bee Day our Saturday Surprise! Today is World Bee Day and I cannot think of another species that deserves its own day of celebration more than bees! Quite literally, our lives depend on bees, and the bee population has been in serious decline for years now. Bee kind … plant some bee-friendly flowers this week as a special treat for these fuzzy little guys, k? And PLEASE … keep the chemicals out of the garden, the yard, and anywhere else you might be tempted to use them.
While every critter, every plant has its place in the ecosystem on planet earth, there is perhaps none more important than the bee. Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities. Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land.
To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the United Nations designated May 20th as World Bee Day. The goal is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.
Boštjan Noč
As it was told to me by a dear friend, a Slovenian beekeeper by the name of Boštjan Noč was driving home one day, listening to a program about “World Days” and their meanings, and he wondered why bees did not have their own day. After all, as important as they are, surely they deserved a day as much as any. As President of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, Noč was in a position to rally the others and launch the World Bee Day Initiative.
The initiative was supported by the Slovenian Government, which strove to make it happen. It took some time … three years, to be exact, but finally on November 17th 2017, the resolution was unanimously backed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, thus designating May 20th as World Bee Day. The initiative was supported by all UN states, while 115 countries also acted as co-sponsors, including major countries such as the U.S., Canada, China, Russia, India, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and all EU Member States.
Why May 20th? Because May 20th is the birth date of Anton Janša (1734–1773), a Slovenian beekeeper, the pioneer of modern beekeeping and one of the greatest authorities on the subject of bees. The Austrian Empress Maria Theresa appointed him to the post of permanent teacher of apiculture at the new School of Beekeeping in Vienna. He became well known even before his death in 1773. After 1775, all state beekeeping teachers had to teach the subject in accordance with his teachings and methods.
So, now that you know the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ behind World Bee Day, what can we do to help the bees? For one thing, we can plant bee-friendly flowers in our gardens, and … don’t mow down those dandelions and clover … bees love those, and frankly, I think they are just as beautiful as any hothouse-bred flowers! Another is we can help force companies like Monsanto, Dow, Bayer and others to stop using bee-killing pesticides on their crops. How? First, stop buying their products. I’m not a fan of buying organic produce, for it is over-priced and doesn’t keep as long, but … if that’s what it takes, then so bee it. You’ll find some other ideas and suggestions on the World Bee Day website … be sure to check it out, for there is a wealth of information there, including lists of bee-friendly (honey) flowers and much more.
I don’t know about other countries, but in Slovenia some beekeepers decorate their bee hives with some fun artwork …
And speaking of coincidence, as I began writing this, I reached for my coffee cup and realized I was drinking out of one of my favourites … no comments about the overflowing ashtray, please!
I think the words of Mr. Noč speak as well as any I can offer ….
“I believe that we all agree that every human being on this planet deserves food every day. We have to produce more food every day, and every day more food is dependent on pollinators – with honey bees in the lead. Talking about reducing global hunger without ensuring the conditions for the survival of bees and other pollinators would simply be like throwing sand in people’s eyes!
It is time for everyone to listen to bees, in particular, leaders and decision-makers. From today on, 20 May will be a worldwide celebration of bees and beekeepers. I believe that – with the proclamation of World Bee Day – the world will begin to think more broadly about bees, in particular in the context of ensuring conditions for their survival, and thus for the survival of the human race.” – Boštjan Noč
And, I thought a cute bee video might bee just the thing to wrap up this post!
Filosofa's Word 
Just wanted to say thanx!
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My pleasure!
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And I missed it again 🤪
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YOU missed it??? You were the one that reminded me a couple of years ago! Ah well … you can celebrate belatedly!
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I celebrate every day, that’s why I miss it 🤣
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I love your Bee-attitude. 🙂
We grow lots of bee, butterfly and bird friendly flowers and trees in our garden, and we don’t use chemicals. I don’t see any need for them. The garden is thriving with the help of its wildlife inhabitants.
Great post, thank you!
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Thank you!!! It sounds like you are doing a great job in helping to protect and rebuild the environment! Keep up the good work! 👍
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Thanks to be remembered by you, Jill! Honestly, otherwise i would not have got notice about this. Here in Germany we are feeling ourselves like the savior of the world. But we are too busy remembering the nature. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
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It’s sad, but it seems that World Bee Day is almost unheard of by most this year. People go on with their lives, forgetting that there are actually some species who are far more important to human survival than we ourselves are! Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed the reminder! I hope you’re having a great weekend and getting some time for your favourite weekend hobby — pillow hugging! xx
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Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you, Michael!!!
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Bee-autiful post! 🙂
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Thank you!!!
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I am glad to say that I have all kinds of big and small bumblebees and wild bees and wasps in my garden in summer, a permanent buzzing, wonderful.
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That is encouraging to hear!!! Ours have diminished significantly over the past 5 years or so and it’s rare to see them at all anymore.
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Sorry to hear that. I do have good conditions for them, places to build their nests, no poison, flowers from early on, water … I am getting more and more varieties of the small ones. Makes me feel that all the work is worthwhile.
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We leave close to an industrial city, so I’m sure pollution has taken its toll, and it seems people are all too eager to be chopping down trees and mowing lawns at the first sign of a dandelion! A few years ago, the apartment managers hired a tree service to come here and cut down almost every tree in the complex! I was so furious!
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We live in the countryside, but there is a lot of poison being spread there too. I am surprised that they can just cut trees down as they see fit. My brother in Oregon says that in America they are very restrictive about that, unless it is big industry, of course. They are not even allowed to cut fire belts around the villages despite increasing wild fires. But maybe that’s just Oregon.
One of our neighbours cut down a very old large tree. Usuallly one has to get permission to do that for trees at a certain age here in Denmark (in Germany as well), but I am sure he did it illegally. To everybody who is sad about the tree having been cut down he claims that it was sick in the core, but that’s a lie, I saw the stump. He is also one of the dandelion haters. I leave them in the grass, but I don’t want them in the flower beds and among the veggies.
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Some states are more restrictive than others about such things, and then of course there are designated protected areas, but in most states, if you want to chop a tree on your own property, nobody’s going to stop you. Oregon and Washington are, naturally, more cautious because of their nearly annual rash of wildfires, but other states like my own are much less so. If only people realized what they are doing with each flower, bush or tree they kill. And then there was Bolsonaro in Brazil who was trying his best to kill the Amazon Rain Forest! Sigh.
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Thanks Jill. You are the bees’ knees. Keith
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Awww … thank you, Keith!
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Keep on bee-lieving Jill. Happy World Bee Day!
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Thanks, Ab!!! Happy World Bee Day to you, too!
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No Mow May is well under way in my garden and I have been sowing wild flower seeds for a few years now. I don’t always know which are weeds, but many weeds are now self identifying as wild flowers! We ‘Did’ Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring at high school in Australia and I have never forgotten it. I never put anything toxic on my garden.
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Awesome!!! I live in a townhouse in an apartment complex, so I have little say in what is done with the landscaping, but we have a small patch in front that we plant bee-friendly flowers every year, and I have a sign out front that reads “No Chemicals!!!” We do what we can. And thumbs up to you for No Mow May!!!
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What a great idea to dedicate a day to bees for spreading much-needed awareness. I always enjoy seeing the bees buzzing around in my garden, knowing I can provide something for supporting their existence.
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Indeed, I thought it was a great idea too … if for no other reason than it increases awareness of just how crucial bees are to our survival!
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When the bees dissapear… we are following soon after.
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That is absolutely correct. Too few people realize it, though.
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so interesting
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Thanks!
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Reblogged this on Wibble and commented:
Bee the change you want to see in the world 🙂
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Many, many thanks for the reblog! The more people understand about the importance of bees, the better off the world is!
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