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Honey Bee Garden
Explore the world of bees and beekeeping
At the new Honey Bee Garden exhibit, you will see a living bee hive, get the inside scoop on bee colonies and see how plants, bees and people all work together to produce honey and so much more.
Walk into an oversized skep (long ago beekeepers made beehives out of grass--these are called skeps). Then climb on the back of a six
foot long sculpture of a honey bee. Stroll along the paths meandering through the colorful gardens which are designed to attract not only honey bees but other pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds. Learn what plants to use in your own backyard to attract and feed these beneficial insects.
Thank a bee for breakfast....lunch... and dinner
Did you know honey bees are the most important insect pollinator for crops grown in North Carolina? Honey bees make it possible to produce $96 million worth of fruits and vegetables every year and another $90 million of cotton, alfalfa and soybeans. Many of our favorite foods need bees to help them grow: apples, almonds, blueberries, carrots, cherries, strawberries, sunflowers, watermelon...and the list goes on!
Avoid the Sting
Honey bees are actually gentle and won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Here are some tips to avoid getting stung:
- Don’t swat at bees
- Wear shoes when walking in a field
- Avoid the hive if you see one