A bee dives into an East Indian lotus flower at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC

© Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Image

Happy Bee Day to you

If flowers are the starring cast of nature's big spring show, then bees are the crew. Honey bees are always buzzing in the background, pollinating not only our photogenic petaled friends, but also food crops that make up a third of human diet. But when seen in front of the camera, they're hardly bee-listers: Today's pollen-coated photo subject was certainly ready for her close-up.

Maybe she's striking a pose on the pink carpet for World Bee Day. The annual event is held each May 20 to celebrate bees' crucial environmental role and raise awareness of the threats they face, especially as the world bee population has declined in recent decades. By carrying pollen, our bee friend is helping fertilize this East Indian lotus and the many other flowering plants here at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. This sprawling preserve protects nearly 300 hectares of tidal marshland in the far eastern corner of Washington, D.C.