A Story: The Bee Garden

1Part 1: No bees in the garden

Nethmi loved her grandmother's garden in Kandy. One day she noticed something strange. "Achchi, where are the bees? I can't see a single one!"

Achchi sighed. "There are fewer bees these days, my dear. Bees carry pollen from flower to flower. Without them, plants cannot make fruits and seeds."

Nethmi felt sad. "Then we must help the bees. But how?"

pollen: a fine yellow powder made by flowers (පරාග). sighed: breathed out slowly because she was sad.

2Part 2: Everyone helps

"Bees love colourful flowers," said Achchi. So Nethmi planted sunflowers, marigolds and hibiscus. Her brother Kasun watered them every evening. Her father made a small wooden bee house, and her mother gave her compost from the kitchen.

Nethmi's friends came to help too. Soon the plants grew taller and taller, and the buds opened in red, yellow and orange.

"Don't forget water," said Achchi. "But only a little, in a shallow bowl. Bees cannot swim."

3Part 3: The bees come back

One morning, Nethmi heard a soft buzzing. She ran outside. Bees were flying from flower to flower! Butterflies and birds had come too.

"You have helped nature, my child," Achchi smiled. "I am proud of you."

Nethmi laughed. "I never knew that helping nature could make me so happy!"

4Characters and their actions

• Nethmi: kind and caring; she planted flowers to help the bees
• Achchi (grandmother): wise; she explained why bees are important
• Kasun (brother): helpful; he watered the plants
• Father: made a wooden bee house
• Mother: gave compost for the plants

To retell a story, use time words: First, Then, Next, After that, Finally.