Weekends for me are about family and reconnecting with nature.  Fortunately for us, we live in a neighborhood surrounded by beautiful mountains and hiking trails.  The trail we did on Sunday took us from one city to the next, all while taking in the most amazing views overlooking the city we call home.  Thanks to the rain we had this year, the blooms were abundant with buckwheat, mustard, black sage and sumac.  Of course this means my friends – the bees – were also out working the honey flow!  Most folks are not comfortable sharing such close quarters with buzzing bees, especially if you are with kids.  Even my wife and 2 boys were somewhat uneasy during parts of our hike.  My advice to them and all of you – Don’t bother the bees and they won’t bother you!  Respect the bees.  Honeybees are not naturally aggressive.  They do not want to sting you.  In fact, if they sting you, they die.   Just be part of nature.  Take time to appreciate the flowers.  Pause for a minute to listen to the beautiful harmonics of the bees buzzing around you.  It is truly an experience to behold.

A few helpful tips to avoid bee stings:

• Avoid wearing perfume or cologne (ie. don’t smell like a flower).  This goes for shampoo, moisturizers and detergents with fragrance. Nectar-seeking bees are quick to detect strong scents and will naturally be drawn to them.
• Avoid wearing bright colored clothing (ie. don’t look like a flower!).
• If you or your child is allergic to bee stings, carry your epi-pen with you!
• If you get stung, don’t pull out the stinger as you will likely leave some of the stinger in your skin (along with the venom).  Best to scrape at it with something flat and hard (ie. credit card) until it comes off.