National Honey Bee Day – August 16, 2025

National Honey Bee Day is an annual event held on the third Saturday of August to raise awareness about the importance of honey bees, promote beekeeping, and celebrate the contributions of beekeepers. It started in 2009 as a grassroots movement by beekeepers in the U.S., and it's grown into a nationwide celebration.

This day is all about:

• Educating the public on the role of bees in our ecosystem
• Supporting local honey producers
• Encouraging bee-friendly practices in agriculture and gardening
• Reminding everyone just how sweet bees really are!

Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination—the process that allows plants to reproduce. Here's why they matter:

• 1 in 3 bites of food you eat is made possible by pollinators like bees. From apples to almonds, blueberries to cucumbers—thank a bee!
• They support biodiversity by pollinating wild plants, not just crops.
• They produce honey, beeswax, royal jelly, and more, which are used in foods, cosmetics, and medicine.
• They contribute to healthy ecosystems, which support wildlife and human life alike.

Here are some bee-autiful facts to share around the garden or dinner table:

1. A single bee can visit up to 5,000 flowers in a single day! Talk about work ethic.
2. The average honey bee produces about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
3. Bees communicate by dancing! The “waggle dance” tells other bees where to find flowers.
4. A bee's wings beat about 200 times per second, which creates that familiar buzzing sound.
5. There are over 20,000 species of bees worldwide—but the honey bee is the only one that makes honey for human consumption.
6. Bees have five eyes—two large compound eyes and three tiny simple eyes on top of their head.
7. Queen bees can lay up to 2,000 eggs a day during peak season!

Want to celebrate National Honey Bee Day in a meaningful way? Here are some bee-friendly ideas:

• Plant pollinator-friendly flowers: Think lavender, sunflowers, bee balm, and wildflowers.
• Avoid pesticides: Opt for natural alternatives in your garden.
• Support local beekeepers: Buy local honey or beeswax products.
• Build a bee hotel: Give solitary bees a place to rest and nest.
• Educate others: Share what you’ve learned about bees with friends and family.

Honey bees may be small, but they have a huge impact on our world. National Honey Bee Day is a sweet reminder of how much we rely on them—and how important it is to protect them. So this August 16, take a moment to thank the bees, support your local beekeeper, and maybe even enjoy a spoonful of honey in their honor. 

Bee kind, bee curious, and bee grateful! 🐝💛

Want to learn more about honey bees? Check out these titles:

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