to not know that bees sleep in flowers? Did you know this?!

[aforestgrewandgrew]

Female bees who haven't made it back to the hive in time, and roving male bees snuggle down inside flowers, apparently.

Is this not the cutest thing ever?! How did I not know this?

I told DS and he said "yes mum, bees sleep in flowers" as if it was common knowledge. But both DP and I had to ask Google before we believed it. Link

I had no idea!, did you?

Oh my...

Picture of a bee sleeping in a foxglove - from here

Uploading the picture would help, hey?!

I didn't know that. Of course things I don't know make up a much bigger list than things I do know.

Is this not the cutest thing ever?!

Not if you bend down for a sniff and get stung up the hooter. Thanks for the warning.

I didn't know this either; how lovely!

Oh ADORABLE

Very cute - like from a fairytale .

That's really sweet

acasualobserver well yes, that could give you a slightly different perspective!

If it's warm you're probably safe though. Bees can't fly when it's cold and the females - which are the only ones that sting * end up in flowers when they get caught out because of a sudden drop in temperature so sleep on the nearest suitable flower as they can't fly back to the hive. So when the day warms up I imagine they buzz off sharpish once they've warmed up.

• I did know this! ** I didn't know this before today either

This is so cute! I had no idea either.

Not if you bend down for a sniff and get stung up the hooter

Nothing to worry about. Bees don't sting unless you really, really upset them.

If you find a lethargic bumble when it's getting cold, encourage it to climb onto the palm of your hand. It will stay there, enjoying the warmth of your skin, and you can examine it as closely as you want. Wonderful!

I didn't know this until now. Earlier this summer, I found a very still bumble bee on a sunflower. Acting on the advice of a Facebook friend, I made up a lukewarm sugar solution and sort of dangled the bee's face in it. It drank the sugar but then didn't merrily fly away and stayed on the flower. I now realise I woke a sleeping bee and dunked it in sugar. My friend said that when bees are still on flowers or on the grass, the ground etc., they have run out of blood sugar and need help, hence the sugar. Next time, I'll leave the poor bees alone, really didn't know they had the occasional nap.

Awwww so cute! I love a good bee fact

Aww, that is the cutest thing ever.

Aww I like bees. The humble bumble, productive, helpful, industrious and a little bit badass

I had no idea either

Every time I'm stressed I'm going to focus on a mental image of a bee sleeping in a flower. The very thought of this makes my heart sing a bit.

awww Bluesrunthegame you basically gave a bee a dream feed.

Blues how lovely! That would be like dozing off and having a warm doughnut dangled in front of you. 🍩

Mmm.

So all of those "hard-working" bees spend half of their lives dossing in foxgloves or having a sly kip on a handy dandelion, do they?

Does the Queen (Bee) know about this?

No the wonder Britain's going down the tubes, all those lazy bees copping off instead of making honey. They want to be ashamed of themselves.

i did not know either that is really cute

And teeny tiny weenie little pixies ride on their backs in the sun all day long with their hands clutching the velvety bee fur and their excited legs flapping gaily in the warm breeze.

Taking that too far Liney that is cute though . Did you know that they dont know how bees fly their wings are out of proportion to their body.

Blimey Liney

No the wonder the poor bees are knackered being used s a pixie taxi service at all hours of the day, and pulling clumps out of their velvety bee fur and kicking them to buggery with their surprisingly strong pixie legs. (I know pixies - nasty little bleeders, they are. Spiteful.)

I take it all back, Bees - you hide your weary carapaces in as many blossoms as you like - I have some nasturtiums here where you can rest your tired little antennae and recuperate from Rodeo-riding pixies - and I bet the sprites aren't much better. And just don't get me started on elves!

Theres a tiny bowl of sugar water and a warm, soft peony here for you any time you like, my dears. Just give me a buzz.