Helping Kids to Feel Safe Around Bees in the Wildflower Garden

The cutest little inspector checks for bees buzzing around the Black-eyed Susans at the Albertus Cottage Wildflower Garden, 200 E. Rose Ave., Orange City, FL. This garden is a Viva Florida wildflower grant garden and is open to the public.

Little children often fear the beautiful bees buzzing around a native wildflower garden. However, you can help them to be less fearful by sharing a few facts:

• Florida has over 300 native bee species. Look at the beautiful photos of Florida native bees on Laura Zurro's amazing website. Talk about the colors, sizes, and shapes of these bees.

• Buy a soft, plus bee toy for your child. Role play and 'humanize' the bee. Name is "Silly Bee" and pretend it's lost and is looking for it's mom. Take the bee outside and look for bees on flowers together. Is that it's mom? Have fun with it!

• Explain to older children that most native bees are solitary, and since they don't have a hive to defend, they are not aggressive.

• In general, solitary bees only sting if you try to squish them. (Don't squish them!)

• Let your child know that most native bees have stingers that are too short to penetrate human skin!

• Find the biggest bee. Now find the tiniest bee. Some native bees are teeny tiny! Ceratina cockerelli is a small carpenter bee found throughout Florida that is only 3 to 4.5 mm long.

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Next, help your children overcome their fear by visiting a native wildflower garden near you! Search for a garden on this interactive map:

Click the map to search for a Viva Florida grant wildflower garden near you!

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Finally, learn how to attract gentle native bees to your area by planting native wildflowers with your child. If you plant them, they will come!

"Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis) occurs naturally along the coast but adapts well for inland use. Its bright flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including butterflies, moths, and bees. Its dense growth pattern provides cover for many small animals, while birds enjoy its seeds." -Florida Wildflower Foundation

Contact Leah if you'd like more information about the Albertus Cottage wildflower garden.