Summer is the season for picnics in meadows, hikes in forests, gardening in yards... and bee stings in your ear. As we spend the next three months getting closer to Nature, what's to prevent Nature from getting uncomfortably closer to us?

Here are a few tips to keep the bees – and other stinging insects – from ruining the season that Charles Bowden called “Always the best of what might be.”

Avoid heavy perfumes, aftershaves and colognes – particularly those with floral scents.
Use insect repellent.
Avoid flowering plants.
Wear light-colored clothing, but avoid floral patterns.
Don't wear loose clothing, which can trap bees between the cloth and your skin.
Avoid going barefoot or wearing open-toed sandals.
Keep a lid on sugary drinks.
Be careful when mowing the lawn or trimming the bushes, activities that might arouse insects in a beehive or wasp nest.
Have hives and nests near your home removed by a professional.
Tightly cover food containers and trash cans.
Close car windows when driving.
Try not to swat at insects or move too quickly if they fly near you; threatened insects tend to sting.
Clear away garbage, fallen fruit, and dog or other animal feces (flies can attract wasps).

All that said, a bee sting or two is inevitable – and part of growing up for any child. Here's how to take the bite out of most any bee sting:

Remove the stinger as soon as possible. There's a venom sac attached to it, and the faster the stinger is removed, the less venom will be released.
Wash the affected area with soap and water.
Apply ice or cold compresses.
Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to ease redness, itching or swelling.
If itching or swelling become a problem, take an oral antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine.

In the case of anaphylaxis – an extreme allergic reaction to the bee sting – quick action must be taken. Call 911; the emergency services team will administer oxygen, intravenous antihistamines and cortisone, and/or a shot of adrenaline.