A Swarm of Bees in May Lyrics
Beekeepers once used this rhyme to judge how valuable a swarm of bees was. The earlier in summer it arrived, the more honey it could make.
A Swarm of Bees in May
A swarm of bees in May
Is worth a load of hay;
A swarm of bees in June
Is worth a silver spoon;
A swarm of bees in July
Is not worth a fly.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/a-swarm-of-bees-in-may/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 4 to 10 years
What Does A Swarm of Bees in May Mean?
When a beehive gets crowded, half the bees fly off with the old queen to find a new home. This is a swarm, and a beekeeper who catches one gets a whole new colony for free. The rhyme sets its value by month. A May swarm has the whole summer to build honeycomb and store honey, so it is worth a load of hay. A June swarm is worth a silver spoon. A July swarm has so little time before autumn that it is hardly worth a fly.
History and Origin
The rhyme is very old. James Orchard Halliwell noted that it was already quoted in a French and English dictionary published in London in 1687. Beekeepers in Britain still quote it today when talking about swarms.
Learning Activities
- Month order: put May, June and July in order and talk about why earlier is better for bees.
- Taste honey: try a spoonful and talk about how bees make it from flower nectar.
- Bee watch: on a sunny day, watch bees visiting flowers from a safe distance.