uninvited guests

[Downix]

I miss raising bees. I've gathered more than one of these swarms back when I was a teenager and apprenticing with a senior beekeeper. All I've ever had to do was set up an empty hive w/ some honey in comb nearby, and the swarm came a buzzing.

[McClef]

Bees are essential for pollination and without them we could quite literally starve.

They deserve our respect.

[Bugbear]

Bees are essential for pollination and without them we could quite literally starve.

They deserve our respect.

Yes, they are very important on the agricultural scene.

Unfortunatly my neighbor, who had a swarm visit his new storage barn, sprayed break fluid all over the place trying to kill them. He claimed they were acting agressivly; ya right, they didn't even try to sting him while he was spraying them with break fluid. And this guy wants to become a fruit and vegetable farmer some day!

[funlvnman]

I'm fully aware of the relationship between bees and agriculture. The only thing I've done to the bees so far is photograph them. They were content to let us move stuff out of the house and co-exist quite peacefully.

I'm leaving the removal/relocation up to the landlord.

[funlvnman]

Bees are essential for pollination and without them we could quite literally starve.

They deserve our respect.

Don't forget about bats. They are just as important as bees. Bats pollinate many of the plants that bees don't. Like the agave for example. Without bats we would not have tequila!! All hail the pollinators of the world.

[Bugbear]

It's the bats and bees!

[Pleater]

You are looking at over 100 dollars a week for hiring out a hive of bees to someone with an orchard in blossom.

KER-CHING!!!!

(that is the sound of an old fashioned cash register, for younger members)

My apple trees are in full blossom at the moment and there are no honey bees visiting, only bumble bees, though they are working really hard, bless them, they just don't move as fast or visit as many blossoms as the smaller bees.

Anne the Pleater

[funlvnman]

Well it's been 4 days since I informed the soon to be ex-landlord about the bees. She has not done anything yet. The nest is about 50% larger than it was on Saturday. I tried to warn the neighbors today but noone was home. She left me a voice mail yesterday indicating that it was my fault the bees have taken up residence. She doesn't understand why I'm moving. Go figure.

Apologies for the poor quality pic. All I had was my cell phone for a camera.

[Bugbear]

Busy bees.

[funlvnman]

Busy bees.

The landlord mentioned an exterminator in her voice mail. I hope they save the hive and give it to a beekeeper rather than destroy it.