At our October 22nd meeting, with the season of bees and blooms coming to a close, it was fitting to have a vote for the 2026 Bee of the Year. In what turned out to be a very close competion between several nominated bees, it was Dan Thompson's nomination of the western bumble bee, Bombus occidentalis, that came out on top.

There are green bees. Tons of them. And they wear it well. So well, that I'd say green is the new black and yellow. So, let's go on a photographic adventure through Washington State's verdant pastures so you can see for yourself, and maybe you'll never see bees the same again.