Let me design a whole party for you. Contact me and tell me what person’s name you would like on all the invitations, the banners, the party hats, the napkins and even table covers and, of course, balloons . I will do the whole party apparel for you and at a very reasonable price. CONTACT and I will call you and even give you a facetime video if you would prefer. Please note, I do not come to the party, I only send you the party apparel before the event. You can have whatever wording you wish on all your party banners, etc.
A festive banner announces a garden party with food and drinks on a party occasion.Tell me what name you would like adding to the cards
When you contact me, I will give you a telephone call and we can discuss how you would like the party apparel organised. I will take all the stress out of organising the party theme.
Sally’s bee/day, but please note, we can’t personalise the cake
Granny Potts stood outside her flower shop shielding her eyes from the sunlight spreading its golden rays over ‘Cherry Blossom Lane’.
Two little girls passed her shop and waved. ‘You wee lassies on your way to school now?’
‘Aye, we are.’ They skipped off and ran over the bridge, above a stream trickling through the village of ‘Whispering Brook’.
Rapid clip-clop sounds could be heard in the distance.
‘Ah Angus and Mr Chips,’ Granny Pott’s declared.
Hooves could be heard clambering around the bend. Granny Potts took in a huge breath. ‘Help ma boab.’
A booming voice sprang out into song. ‘I’m Angus McFizz from Aberdeen, a good looking chap if you’ve ever seen, I’m Angus McFizz, from Ab Aberdeen, I’m Angus McFizz…’
Slow down you great oaf, you’ll be smashing into my wee shop.’
Angus and Mr Chips
Angus tossed his mop of red hear back and let out a thunderous roar of laughter most of the village probably heard. Mr Chips ground to a sudden halt outside the shop and Angus leaped off the cart. His huge frame nearly cracked a paving stone as he landed.
Granny Potts looked at the wobbling stone. ‘You were lucky that time,’ she giggled.
A loud shriek shot out as Mr Chips nipped Angus’s backside. Mr Chips curled his top lip,revealing large, yellow teeth.
‘Oh, you think that’s funny eh?’ Angus slapped his sides and doubled over. Granny Potts held her mouth to try and stop the spluttering. When both of them recovered themselves, Angus undid the harness and they stepped inside the shop all red faced and out of breath. Angus placed a box of flowers on the counter, while Mr Chips helped himself to an orange Gerbera flower inside a bucket beside the door.
Mr Chips
‘You rascal,’ Granny Potts chuckled.
‘I cannae tell you how that nag thinks it’s all about him.’ Angus patted Mr Chips’ thick chestnut coloured neck, ‘but I’d not be without him.’ Angus took out the flower his horse had clenched between his teeth and flicked his bushy black forelock.
Angus looked around the little wooden shop. ‘When are you gaunn’ae name the shop?’
‘I’m trying to think of a fitting name for it, but I’m sure it’ll come to me one of these days.
‘Angus gave her a curious smile and walked Mr Chips back to the cart. He put on the harness and climbed into the carriage. Granny Potts waved as they headed back up the lane. ‘What a grand pair.’
A week later, Granny Potts was standing outside her shop when a familiar noise of galloping hooves could be heard in the distance. Angus and Mr Chips came flying around the corner,
Granny Potts put up her hand, ‘Angus, slow him.’
‘I cannae, the old nag nicked a ton of oats this morning,’ he shouted. Mr Chips charged over the bridge, the cart’s wheels almost toppling over. Angus dug his heels into the foothold and tugged at the harness. All too soon they disappeared into the woodland, followed by a cloud of dust.
‘Oh dear, I hope they’ll be alright,’ She went back into the shop and walked around. She stopped at a pot, packed with droopy, red roses and flopped down on her rocking chair.. ‘My poor flowers.’
The doorbell jingled and Granny Potts nearly fell off her chair. In came a man wearing a green, floppy hat, holding a brown box under one arm.
Granny Potts stood up and straightened her pink apron with white frilled edges. ‘Hello, would you like to buy my flowers?’ She said in an embarrassed, hesitant way.
The man looked around at the wilting flowers. ‘Well I’m very sorry to say, but I see they look a wee tired today.’
‘I know, the weather is so warm, my flowers shrivel up before I can sell them.’
‘If you will help me and display some of my wooden toys in your window,’ said the man, ‘then I will buy some of your flowers tomorrow in return for your kindness.’ He took out some wooden toys from his box and spread them out on the counter before her.
‘Do you make these toys yourself?’ Her eyes gleamed like polished topaz stones at all the different toys.
‘I carve wooden toys for the bairns of our village and give them to the good ones, who deserve them.
‘She smiled at him and looked back at the toys, where she noticed some wooden bees, each no bigger than the size of her hand. ‘Oh, those cute bees would look great in my shop window. I could put them on top of the honey jars.
‘The man left the wooden bees and looked around at all the flowers. ‘At times living things need a wee bit of coaxing in magical ways. These are special toys. You will see.’ He turned and walked to the door. ‘I’ll come back tomorrow.’ He tipped his hat. and walked out into the glen, where birds started calling in a musical chorus at the sight of him.
Granny Potts chuckled and tutted. ‘Special toys?’ she mumbled and placed the three wooden bees on top of the honey jars. She stood back a little. ‘What colourful bees, I’m very happy to have you in my shop window.’ She stroked one of them on top of its head.
As soon as Granny Potts closed the shop that evening and as the sun was setting behind the heather clad hills, something strange happened. First, the large, queen bee flapped her wings and the two smaller bees opened their huge, brown eyes. The bees were no longer wooden toys, they had come to life.
‘Come children, you two have work to do,’ Aliza, the queen bee urged. Blaze and Topaz stretched their skinny, knobbly legs and flew to the wilting flowers.
Blaze began sucking up the nectar from some Sunflowers in a pot. ‘Yum yum,’ he buzzed and rubbed his ever bulging tummy. ‘Come get some nectar mummy,’ he shouted and looked over at Aliza.
Blaze
‘Oh no, queen bees do not gather nectar, that is your job.’
‘Blaze, you have pollen stuck all over your body,’ Topaz chuckled. She took a long smell of the Lillies spicy fragrance in one of the pots.
As Topaz and Blaze flew from one flower to the next, during the night, the pollen on their bodies sprinkled like fairy dust over all the shrivelling flowers…and they all sprang back to life…blooming in a sea of colours.
Aliza took Blaze and Topaz under her wings and promoted them to Princess Topaz and Prince Blaze for what they had achieved that night.
The next morning…
‘Well bless my soul!’ Granny Potts cried out, adjusting her round glasses, as she entered her shop the next morning. Her eyes twinkled at all the beautiful flowers. The little bees were in the same spot she had left them the night before…all wooden and still again. Just then, the door opened and in walked the man with the green, floppy hat. He stood at the door and sniffed the air as sweet wispy perfumes wafted around.
‘Ah scents from Heaven. Now, I’ll be very happy to buy some flowers.’
Granny Potts rubbed her hands together and licked her lips. She reached out for two long, wide stems of palm leaves and lay them out on the counter. She walked over to the Gypsophila pot and selected four stems. The gyp was placed carefully on top of the large palm leaves., then she selected six bright red roses and placed them on top of the gyp. She stepped back to admire her progress and grinned. ‘Now, I think we shall add some Freesias.’ She walked over to the different coloured blooms and picked up a bundle, then placed them on top of the roses. Eucalyptus was placed around the edge of the bouquet. Granny Potts sighed and looked at the man.
He tipped his hat.’That’s brightened my day.’
Granny Potts giggled and wrapped her creation in a selection of brightly coloured tissue papers, finished off with a huge, golden bow.
The man took the flowers and paid Granny Potts. He went to the shop door and turned to look back at her. ‘You can keep the bees, they’ve served you well.’ He looked at Blaze, gave him a little wink and opened the door. Looking up at the sky, he then strolled down the lane like a proud sergeant major.
Later that afternoon...
Granny Pott’s went to the the open window and looked out. Honeycomb coloured rays were slipping through the trees in the woodland, Angus and Mr Chips appeared in the clearing. over the bridge.
‘Oh, thank goodness. You two are safe.’ She rushed out of the shop and walked to the edge of the pavement. Angus and Mr Chips ambled along the road like they’d been on a rough ride. Angus had leaves and branches attached to his hair and beard. Lots of foliage stuck to Mr Chips’ mane and tail.
‘They’re always on some kind of adventure.’
‘Fair well lassie.’ Angus cried out to her. ‘There’s good times ahead. So you finally decided what to call your wee shop then?’
‘Aye Angus, what do you think of ‘Bee Bees Flower Shed?’
‘Loving it!’ He hollered back and disappeared around the bend.
When she sauntered back into the shop with a wide grin on her face, she noticed the man with the green floppy hat sitting on her chair, rocking as cool as you like as though he owned the place.
‘Er hello, I never saw you come in.’ She turned to look at the door and back at the man ‘How very strange.’ She started rubbing her eyes. ‘How did….’
‘I hope you don’t mind dear lady, just resting my tired feet,’ he interrupted and stood up. He handed her a wooden box with a slot on the top.
‘Place it on the windowcill for all your customers to write a worry note and pop it into the box. Then prepare yourself for what happens next.’
Two bees busy collecting pollen from colorful wildflowers in a sunny meadow
Honey bees have a preference for a variety of flowers and herbs providing them with nectar and pollen. Here are some of their favorites:
Flowers
Lavender: Known for its fragrace, the lavender attracts many bees with its rich nectar.
Sunflowers: Because they are so bright and large they offer abundant nectar and are appealing to honey bees.
Echinacea (Coneflower): With its vibrant petals, echinacea is not only beautiful but also a valuable food source for bees.
Clovers (White and Red): Both types of clover produce ample nectar, making them favorites among honey bees.
Zinnias: These colorful flowers bloom throughout the summer and are excellent at attracting bees.
Herbs
Basil: When they flower, basil creates attractive blooms that draw in bees.
Thyme: This herb produces tiny flowers that are rich in nectar and very appealing to honey bees.
Sage: With its lovely purple flowers, sage is another herb that honey bees particularly love.
Mint: Once mint flowers, it becomes a magnet for honey bees looking for nectar.
By planting a variety of these flowers and herbs, you can create a bee-friendly garden supporting their foraging.
Here are some additional food sources:
Trees and Shrubs
Fruit Trees: Apple, cherry, and peach trees produce fragrant blossoms attracting bees.
Willow: In Spring, the early blooming willow tree provides essential pollen and nectar.
Maple: Red maple trees bloom early in the season, offering nectar for bees.
Bees actively gathering pollen from a maple tree
Wildflowers
Bee Balm (Monarda): This wildflower not only attracts bees but also hummingbirds and butterflies.
Black-eyed Susan: Known for their striking yellow petals, these flowers are a favorite among honey bees.
Asters: Blooming in late summer and fall, asters provide a vital food source as other flowers fade.
Other Plants
Coriander (Cilantro): When allowed to flower, cilantro can be very attractive to bees.
Fennel: Similar to coriander, when bolting, fennel flowers attract many pollinators.
Sweet Clover: This legume produces fragrant flowers that are very appealing to honey bees.
Vegetables
Pumpkin and Squash Plants: These plants have large, showy flowers attracting bees.
Cucumbers: The blooms of cucumber plants are also a good food source for honey bees.
Incorporating a variety of these plants in your garden will not only enhance its beauty but also support local bee populations by providing ample food sources throughout the growing season.
