It’s the middle of summer and a heat wave has been pressing down on Geneva for weeks. To escape it for a bit, I’m in town with the boys and their dads. We’ve just played laser tag in Eaux-Vives and decided to stroll down through Parc des Eaux-Vives, aiming to catch one of the paddle steamers on the lake to take us back home to Versoix. I’ve been here many times. We used to live here about ten years ago, and it’s still one of my favorite spots in the city. There’s always something happening and something to see. Robin and I came here a few years ago for the sculpture park, which was awesome. And this time, the park delivers once again.

In a green patch right next to that well known building where peace talks are often held stands a bee. A giant bee made entirely of plants. We stop and take a closer look. Usually, the boys are terrified of buzzing insects, but they find this one fascinating. And so do I. A sign nearby tells us that the bee is made of 1,300 plants attached to a metal frame. The structure is covered in mesh, filled with soil, and planted in April. The plants are then cared for indoors until the bee is “released” into the city at the end of May.

Apparently, this floral bee was first created in 1999 for an exhibition in Italy and has since traveled through several towns in Switzerland. Google tells me that the “beekeepers” are the same gardening crew responsible for Geneva’s famous Flower Clock. They clearly know what they are doing. It is a beautiful sculpture, in a beautiful location, and a perfect reminder of just how important biodiversity really is. Without bees, there would be no pollination, and humankind simply would not survive. Well done, Geneva.