Clean Bee
I used to be terrified of bees. I’m not sure why, though, because I don’t remember ever having been stung as a child. Over the years, however, I’ve grown more comfortable around them and don’t shudder each time one flies near. I’ve spent a lot of time this spring traversing fields of native grasses with my volunteer work for the Smithsonian, so I’ve grown even more comfortable among these incredible insects. Today, I took advantage of my new-found bravery (and their obvious singular focus on a beautiful garden of cone flowers) to get up close and personal. This bee paused to clean his face, and I like to think he was trying just has hard to focus on me as I was on him.
Tricia Booker Photography 
Bumble bees are good critters that won’t sting. What do you do for Natl. Geo??? How exciting it will be when your byline is in a magazine!!!
Actually, it’s the Smithsonian. I volunteered for a research project this spring in which I identified and documented bird species. Not NatGeo yet! Maybe someday!
Bees are usually nice if you don’t bother them. Now, if I could only get them to pose for me…
i love the picture. but how do get the bee to stay there long enough to take a picture??