Of Bees and Daisies: A Fable

When one thinks of daisies, what words come to mind?

Obviously, spring.

Cheerful or happy, possibly?

Maybe innocence or purity?

How about love and friendship?

While this may be true today, back then, when the world was still young and the land was mostly green and left alone by man, daisies were a cold flower known for their arrogance and pride. Believing that their beauty was unmatched, they rarely befriended other flowers. Instead, they preferred to live only among other daisies.

While daisies had contempt for their flowery brethren, it was the bees that earned most of the daisies' disgust. They viewed bees as leeches and bums who only tried to steal nectar and pollen for the bees’ selfish desire to eat.

“Why should I have to give up a part of myself to please and feed a bee?” one daisy bemoaned.

“They offer nothing in return. Incredibly lazy and presumptuous of them,” said another daisy.

“Let them starve! Their fate does not impact Daisykind,” proclaimed that year’s Queen Daisy.

Anytime a bee would fly by the daisy patch, the flowers would hiss and jeer at the worker bee to discourage the bee from attempting to land on them. Unlike the daisies of now, the daisies of yore always had their petals pointing up, forming an unearned crown that reinforced their haughtiness.

Unlike the other honey bees, Worker Bee 833 thought a truce could be broken between the bees and the daisies. It had been a particularly rough spring with very little rain or wind. Animals and flowers alike were struggling with how they would prepare for the next season. Worker Bee 833 thought that the harsh reality of a cold spring could warm the hearts of the daisies, so she went to her Queen, Queen Beelinda, for her blessing.

“Didn’t realize-zzz I changed your job to Chief Ideas-zzz Maker,” Queen Beelinda mocked. Her five eyes narrowed as she loomed over Worker Bee 833, “We-zzz don’t negotiate-zzz with those-zzz who hate-zzz us-zzz.”

Worker Bee 833 had only asked her queen as a courtesy. While disappointed at the Queen’s decision, she knew that hate and self-interest could only make this hard season even harder. Stung by her words but undeterred, Worker Bee 833 left the hive to talk with Queen Daisy.

The journey to the daisy patch was a bleak reminder of what was at stake, not just for the bees but for all animals and flowers. The grass had turned drab months ahead of schedule. The roses (who also mistrusted bees) were beginning to wilt. And the honeydew, the sweet nectar that plant-eating insects secrete that bees use for honey, was slim pickings.

With every flap of Worker Bee 833’s wings, she would see more omens of a bleak future, reinforcing her resolve even further.

Upon hearing the hisses, Worker Bee 833 knew she was close to the daisy patch. When she got close to the first daisy, she could hear the daisies' jeers.

“Stay away from us, you pest!”

“No one wants you here, you honey-sucker!”

Worker Bee 833 tuned out the insults and focused on asking for direction on finding the queen. Just as the bee ignored the mockery, the daisies ignored her inquiry. Not one daisy gave a hint to who the queen might be.

After buzzing around for ten minutes, the tallest flower spoke up. The rest of the patch went silent as Queen Daisy asked, “How dare you bother my fellow daisies! We do not wish to associate with your kind. Leave with haste,” bellowed the daisy. “It will be most unpleasant for you if I were to ask again.”

“Excuse-zzz me-zzz, Your Highness-zzz,” Worker Bee 833 said with a slight bow, “but I’m here-zzz to —”

“Why do you sound like that?” interjected Queen Daisy.

“It is-zzz how we-zzz bees-zzz speak, Your Majesty.”

“Well, I do not like how it sounds,” the Queen sneered.

Worker Bee 833 gulped, unsure how to respond. Had there been wind, it would have been the only sound. Instead, there was just silence.

With quaking antennas, Worker Bee 833 broke the tension. “Your Grace-zzz, there-zzz many differences-zzz between us-zzz.” Her voice cracked, “ However, I want to talk more-zzz about what we-zzz can do together to help each other.”

“And what, pray tell, can a lowly bee like yourself do for us majestic daisies?”

Worker Bee 833 shared with Queen Daisy how she understood that without any winds, it would be impossible for the daisies to pollinate for next year’s daisy cycle. She then proposed that the bees could offer to help pollinate in exchange for some nectar and pollen.

As much as Queen Daisy wished she would have been unimpressed with the bee’s idea, she felt deep down in her stem that the bee had a point. The only issue was that she still did not trust bees. “How would I know you wouldn’t take advantage of our kindness?” she asked.

“Because-zzz I’m an honorable-zzz bee-zzz.”

“And what about your stinger? We are delicate flowers, and I worry that your brute ways will hurt us.”

“On my queen’s-zzz honor, we-zzz shall be-zzz as-zzz gentle-zzz as-zzz the-zzz spring breeze-zzz.”

Doubt still lingered in Queen Daisy’s mind. “Speaking of your queen, where might she be? How come she did not make this trip herself? Why send someone like you?”

Worker Bee 833 turned her eyes away from the queen. “She-zzz doesn’t know,” she admitted.

Had a daisy done what this bee had done, Queen Daisy would have disowned the flower without prejudice or remorse. Yet, this bee risked everything to partner with flowers that despise them. The Queen could not help but admire the bee’s spirit. “Very well, Ms. Bee. You have persuaded me. Come back here tomorrow morning with your fellow bees, and we will get to business. We shall try for one week.”

Buzzing with excitement from the successful negotiation, Worker Bee 833 returned to the hive only to be greeted by the two guards. Worker Bee 833's mood darkened when the guards led her to Queen Beelinda, who sat in a chair that was four times too small for her massive abdomen.

“Insubordinate-zzz peasant, where-zzz did you-zzz go?” Queen Beelinda spat.

Worker Bee 833 took a deep breath before recounting her conversation with Queen Daisy. As she shared, Queen Beelinda’s anger changed to surprise and then to delight. If this worker bee were telling the truth, what she accomplished would be historic. The question now in the Queen’s mind was, “Is she telling the truth?”

“I will send a 30 bees-zzz to join your excursion. But be-zzz warned, Worker Bee-zzz 833, if you are-zzz lying, you-zzz will be-zzz reassigned to the-zzz wasp ambassador team.”

Worker Bee 833 didn’t need her Queen to threaten her to understand what was at stake. It was not just the potential famine, but the loss of a beautiful group of flowers. So she simply bowed to her queen and left to rest for tomorrow’s excursion.

The next day, a group of bees, led by Worker Bee 833, arrived at the daisy patch at dawn. While they no longer jeered the bees, the daisies were still closed off; their petals formed a fortress that prevented the bees from getting the pollen and the nectar. Confused by the change of plans, Worker Bee 833 flew to Queen Daisy to ask what happened.

“I am so sorry, Ms. Bee, but my kind is afraid. We have nothing more we can do,” the Queen begged. “Go back home to your hive and let us die in peace.”

Worker Bee 833 shook her head no, rejecting the Queen’s pleas. There was indeed one thing that Queen Daisy could do to help everyone. “Lead them, Your Highness-zzz,” she encouraged.

“Lead them,” Queen Daisy repeated as she began to unfurl her white petals to reveal a yellow core reminiscent of a lovely summer sun. She prepared for the bee’s heavy landing, but was surprised by how gently the bee’s legs touched her petals.

“Thank you,” Worker Bee 833 whispered.

“For what?” Queen Daisy inquired.

“For being open and trusting. It is-zzz truly beautiful.”

Soon, all the other daisies followed their Queen’s vulnerable example and opened themselves up to others. For the next several days, the daisies opened their petals while the bees collected nectar and honey. The daisies were amazed by how the bee’s legs and body were perfect for pollination.

Unfortunately, Queen Daisy could feel her death was imminent. So on the fifth day of the experiment, Queen Daisy asked, “Ms. 833, I do not see any results of opening myself up to you. All I see is your friends getting fat from my pollen and nectar. How do I know my part of the deal is being honored?”

Worker Bee 833 landed on the Queen and kissed her petals. “Change-zzz takes-zzz time-zzz.” Then, speaking without her bee accent for the first time in her short life, she added, “I promise.”

A sense of warmth and joy washed over Queen Daisy like a spring shower. This bee had given her life hope. She would be thankful to her for the short time she had left. “I believe-zzz you,” she replied.

For the next hour, Worker Bee 833 and Queen Daisy watched in silence as the clouds danced in the sky.

As she approached the daisy patch the following day, Worker Bee 833 felt a pang in her thorax. Her unexpected partner, her even more unexpected friend, had died in the middle of the night. The harsh weather took another victim. Heartbroken, Worker Bee 833 flew away from the field to be alone with her thoughts. If an animal had been out that morning, they would have assumed the grass was covered with dew. They would never have guessed that the blades of grass were sparkling with the tears of a honey bee.

***

Worker Bee 833 was only two weeks old when Queen Daisy died. Typically, worker bees live four to six weeks, but Worker Bee 833 was committed to seeing her promise through and seeing if the daisies would return next season.

Vowing to do what she could to take care of herself, Worker Bee 833 witnessed several generations of her sisters and friends die, but she kept on buzzing, month by month, season by season. Soon, she became a legend around the hive because of her abnormal life expectancy and because her idea produced a higher-than-average quantity of honey that year.

Even Queen Beelinda acknowledged Worker Bee 833. “You proved me-zzz wrong, which is-zzz a very difficult thing to accomplish,” the Queen said at a celebration honoring Worker Bee 833.

When spring finally arrived, Worker Bee 833 gingerly flew to the daisy patch. Her wings didn’t flap as quickly, and the journey took twice as long. However, when she arrived, she was surprised that there were daisies not only in the daisy patch, but all over the field! Her plan was even more successful than she could ever dream.

Even more shocking was that none of the daisies had their petals in their trademark crown. Instead, they were open and proudly displaying their sweet center.

“Ahoy there, Ms. Bee! Come over here!”

Worker Bee 833 looked around to discover who was calling her attention. The yelling came from the tallest daisy in the field. Worker Bee 833 did as asked.

“My name is Queen Daisy. What is your name, sweet bee?”

“Worker Bee 833, Your Highness-zzz.”

“No need for all that highness nonsense,” she replied. “By chance, are you the same Worker Bee 833 who counseled my predecessor?

Worker Bee 833 nodded.

“My goodness, you are full of surprises, aren’t you! Didn’t realize bees could live for so long. Well, we flowers have memories from our previous cycles. I would not be alive had it not been for your bravery and courage. Thank you for trusting us even when our behavior was quite boorish.”

“It was-zzz my honor,” Worker Bee 833 replied. If bees could cry, tears would have stained her face.

Queen Daisy continued, “From now on, daisies and flowers will be best of friends. You have my and all future queens' support.”

Worker Bee 833 thanked the Queen again and flew away to where the old Queen used to stay. Worker Bee 833 landed on the ground, exhausted by the journey. “Best friends,” she repeated to herself and smiled. She had lived a long life, but those words were the sweetest thing she had ever known.

Worker Bee 833 died where her friend, last season’s Queen Daisy, lived. The bee’s body would become part of the earth, and in time, a new Queen Daisy will bloom, full of life, optimism, and love.

Today, bees and daisies often go hand in hand, usually as symbols of spring. All because two individuals of different backgrounds choose to trust and be vulnerable with each other.