I saw an extraordinary sight when we visited Williamsburg with our family a few weeks ago. They had gone off to explore the town, Gregg was looking for a much-prized parking spot as it was very busy, and I was having my usual sit-down on a bench while waiting for him, enjoying the warmth and sunshine, and people watching.
I don't know what made me look up, maybe it was the sound of them, I don't know.
I raised my head and there they were, literally thousands upon thousands of bees. I think I must have heard them first and I gasped at the sight of them. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I had never seen anything like it before. A dozen bees at the most on a plant I was photographing. You can click on them to enlarge for better detail.
For some reason I wasn't afraid that they were going to sting me. I was mesmerized and I quickly looked to see if anyone else had noticed them. I couldn't see anyone with their heads turned upwards like I was. I was sitting on my own of course, and everyone else seemed to be busy with their families, small children, dogs, etc. I felt like I was in a world of my own with all those bees putting on the best show. They seemed to be heading in one direction. This went on for at least ten minutes as I followed their movement. It was the most surreal experience I have ever had. It seemed as if they were all only a few feet above my head, probably higher but not so high that I couldn’t get these photos with my cell phone. And then they were gone!
Gregg found the following info online. (He had joined me not long after they had disappeared, and our family an hour later.) It read as follows:
"What you witnessed is almost certainly a mass swarming event, likely involving honeybees, and here's what is probably going on.
Late April in Virginia is peak swarming season for honeybees.
When a hive becomes too crowded, the old queen and about half the worker bees leave to find a new home. This swarm can involve tens of thousands of bees.
The bees swirl in the air (sometimes for 5-15 minutes) as scouts search for a new nesting site. It is dramatic but usually harmless - swarming bees are gorged on honey and less aggressive.
It is a natural, healthy behavior for a thriving hive. Beekeepers actually hope to catch these swarms, as it is a way to grow or start new hives.
A single bee can produce 1 tablespoon of honey in its lifetime.
683 bees fly roughly 32,550 miles to gather 5.93 lbs. of nectar from about 1,185,000 flowers in order to make one 9.5 oz. jar of honey.
(Now, you can take all these little bits of info with a grain of salt as I found them all over the internet. I went to dozens of websites. Once on that curiosity journey, I found it hard to stop.)
Did you know that honey contains a substance that helps the human brain work better?
Did you know that the honey is the ONLY food on earth that can sustain human life alone?
Did you know that a teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours?
Did you know that propolis produced by bees is the most powerful natural antibiotic.
What is 'propolis’?
Propolis, also known as "bee glue," is a sticky-like resinous substance produced by honeybees from plant sap, combined with their saliva and beeswax. Bees use propolis to seal cracks in their hives, protect against pathogens and maintain temperature and humidity. Humans have used propolis for various medicinal purposes due to its antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Historically, propolis has been used for wound healing, treating infections and even as a component in embalming.
It is available as a supplement, ingredient in topical creams and ointments, and in oral products like mouthwashes and throat lozenges.
Propolis may help with various conditions like cold sores, swelling and sores in the mouth, and may even slow blood clotting.
While propolis has shown promising results in research, the claims about its medicinal properties haven't been fully supported by scientific evidence, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
