Sacred Bees

This picture was taken of our verbena hedge this afternoon - 27deg C and a beautiful spring day. Because we haven't been too diligent with pruning the hedge, there are plenty of flowers this season and the bees absolutely love it. It is said to be good luck to have bees in your garden and I couldn't agree more. My garden is organic and all creatures are welcome in it, but I especially love bees, they make me smile and are definitely a sacred part of my gardening life.

Some Bee Folklore;

"Bees have often been regarded as wise and even holy insects, having foreknowledge as well as knowledge of many secret matters. In antiquity they were sometimes divine messengers, and their constant humming was believed to be a hymn of praise"

"the ancient Egyptians believed the bees sprang from the tears of the Sun god"

"Bees are symbolic of sexuality, chastity, fertility, purity and care. They are also considered to be an image of a human soul due to their natural ability to find their way home from great distances."

"A single bee or bumblebee entering a house means good luck, probably in the form of money."

A nursery riddle from the 16th century - and the answer is ?

Little bird of Paradise,

She works her work both neat and nice;

She pleases God, she pleases man,

She does the work that no man can.