One of the pollinators we are most familiar with are bees. I love to take pictures of these gals — no idea why. But they have given me some of my very best photos.

Bees are special among insects because they are covered in hairs. The hairs pick up pollen for them.

Bees go from flower to flower gathering pollen. You see how this bee has been dusted with it. As she moves from flower to flower, some of the pollen she’s picked up elsewhere will come off and fertilize the plant’s seeds. That’s the payoff for the flowers.

But soon she’ll take a moment to groom herself, packing the pollen into gummy packets.

This bumble bee has packed the pollen onto special spots on her legs — see the yellow doughy stuff? This keeps her clean, and keeps the pollen from drifting away as she flies. She gets to take that dough home. That’s the payoff for the bees. Everybody’s happy!