The town of Weston and the Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance encourage Westonians and all our neighbors to celebrate today the little fuzzies that call our yards home. While this year’s Bee parade has been canceled, there is no reason you still can’t put on the old yellow and black.

While the Owl admits to frequently making stuff up, this holiday is in fact…a fact. This is the fourth annual celebration of World Bee Day and it even has its own United Nations website! Let’s take a look at what they have to say about our little buzzy friends:

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Why a World Bee Day?

By observing World Bee Day each year, we can raise awareness on the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy, and on the many challenges they face today. We have been celebrating this day since 2018, thanks to the efforts of the Government of Slovenia with the support of Apimondia, that led the UN General Assembly to declare 20 May as World Bee Day.

The date for this observance was chosen as it was the day Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern apiculture, was born. Janša came from a family of beekeepers in Slovenia, where beekeeping is an important agricultural activity with a long-standing tradition.

Today bees, pollinators, and many other insects are declining in abundance. This day provides an opportunity for all of us – whether we work for governments, organizations or civil society or are concerned citizens – to promote actions that will protect and enhance pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping.

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Two things here: 1. Who knew there was an Apimondia? This is spectacular. The Owl feels cheated that she has spent most of her life without knowing this … and 2. Look at Slovenia leading the way. More on this in a later Owl when she doesn’t have to go for a run to deal with stress.

If you are unable to be a part of the worldwide celebrations, make sure you head over to the Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance webpage. It’s all new and there is some fantastic information on how to be a better friend to all the pollinators (hint: give up the nasty lawn sprays. It’s not hard. Cold turkey. Let the clover live–it has rights too).

Now, get out there and hug a bee. Alternatively, choose a few items here from the United Nations and make the world a better place: