Bee Jeweled

During the summer months, a worker bee will only live for about six weeks.
The effort of endless trips out to collect pollen , as far as 5 miles from the hive, eventually kills her.

The birds are most likely to find a weak bee before we do and it's not often you will see one. This bee was so tired she couldn't make the last 20 yards back to her hive last night and I found her this morning, as you see her, covered in dew.

The droplets shone like little diamonds on her back. She was drying out in the sunshine but, although still alive, she won't gain enough energy to fly.

It's hard to believe how beautiful it was earlier. Black clouds have covered the sky again and I get the feeling we are in for yet another soaking.