Saturday - August 17th - is World Honey Bee Day!

Yes, in two days we will all be able to celebrate the amazing honey bee as it is World Honey Bee Day on the 17th! On days of the year (dot) com it says, "World Honey Bee Day is an awareness day whereby honey bee enthusiasts, beekeeping associations and clubs, and beekeepers celebrate the honey bee. It is a day to recognize the contribution honey bees make to our everyday lives, as well as learning about the different steps we can take in order to protect this vital species." So, let's take a look at some fun honey and bee facts which we are able to share with the children we love - did you know . . . 

• In 3500 BC the first organized form of beekeeping was developed in Egypt.
• The number of bees in a colony can rise up to 80,000.
• Honey is widely and effectively used to treat several ailments.
• Honey is considered one of the best sweeteners for beverages and other foods.
• Because bees eat on different types of nectar plants, honey has a variety of flavors.
• When honey is well preserved, it can remain edible for thousands of years.
• Stingers are actually modified egg-laying organs, so only female bees have them.
• They regularly work 10+ hours daily with no weekends or vacation days off. But bees need sleep too. So after a long day of work, bees head back to their nests to get some shut-eye. 
• During the winter, when there aren’t many flowers blooming, bees enter a state of dormancy or hibernation.
• A healthy honeybee colony can make over 100 pounds of honey per year.
• Bees have five eyes, Two of their eyes are large compound eyes that sit on either side of their head. These eyes are made up of thousands of tiny lenses, which give bees a wide field of view. Bees also have three small eyes in the center of their head, which are called ocelli, which are used for stability, navigation, and orientation. Using their ocelli, bees can detect ultraviolet light, which allows them to find flowers more easily.
• Honey is the only food made by an insect, and eaten both by the insect and humans.
• Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-septic benefits that are so effective, there is a peer reviewed, published paper demonstrating that honey is effective against MRSA  – or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.  MRSAis ordinarily difficult to treat.

You will find more bee facts at this link and more honey facts at this link. You will find more information about World Honey Bee Day at this link.

I'm very happy to share a recipe with you from my book, Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More  for Lemon/Lime Honey Butter Cookies – You will need . . .     

• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 Tablespoons lemon or lime juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 3/4 to 3 cups flour
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1  cup softened butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon or lime peel
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions –

11.      Mix everything except for the flour for two or three minutes until well blended.

2.      Add flour and mix well.

3.      Dough will be sticky – use two spoons to drop onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper for best result.

4.      Bake for eight to ten minutes at 375 degrees

5.      Let sit for a minute, then move to cooling racks and enjoy!