buzz buzz buzz went the buzzer

[pensnest]

Chez Pen was abuzz with excitement today. Beast and I were toiling in the back garden (picking up stones/sieving soil) when he remarked that the bees seemed very loud today. When we looked up, we saw an agitated cloud of them boiling above the beehives. The cloud drifted towards the house and sideways a bit, and eventually the swarm coalesced into a dark mass hanging high up in next-door's sweet chestnut tree, which partially overhangs the fence between us.

We called our beekeeper to let him know about the swarm, and by the time he and his partner arrived it had become that dangling black lump about, hmm, thirty feet up. There was a fair bit of discussion, and eventually we hoisted out the long ladder from the garage, propped it against the sweet chestnut, and the female beekeeper went up into the tree to get a better view of the situation.

Well. She made some progress along the likeliest limb, but had to abandon the attempt as it didn't feel safe. So the two beekeepers inspected the hives, which are both thriving, apparently, kidnapped a couple of unimpressed queen bees, and took themselves off.

We don't know whether the bees are still in the tree. Couldn't see them, from the house, but it wasn't always easy to get a good view.

Anyway, that was our morning. Tonight, there are fireworks, though I am still treating myself as quarantined and have had no thought of going out to see them.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Chez Pen was abuzz with excitement today Ha! Great pun!

[pensnest]

It was impossible to resist!

[jacieleigh]

I am very thankful there are beekeepers in the world because it's not something most of us would care to do. But definitely, something that needs to be done. I hope they figure out your swarming issues!

[pensnest]

I certainly wouldn't - though it is fascinating to see inside a beehive, Dave-the-Bees showed me once. They have found and marked the queen in the second of our hives now. But the swarm has disappeared.

[jacieleigh]

I hope they've settled for good, so there's no more swarming about. That would make me very nervous.

[pensnest]

I don't think it happens very often - first time since we got the beehives, which must be at least five years now. I *think* it's when the hive has made a new Queen, and the old Queen removes herself and a bunch of bees go with her. Most of the time the hive is happy with the Queen it has - or the beekeeper removes any spare queens!

[frausorge]

My goodness. I hope the bees resolve whatever their drama is and disperse, if they haven't already! And I hope that working in the garden means you felt strong enough to do so, and that you keep on the upswing if so.

[pensnest]

The bees have gone, probably together, and presumably searching for a new home. Apparently the old queen sees new ones about to hatch and decides to leg it (er, wing it) before she gets kicked out or killed! And takes a bunch of bees along with her. It was quite dramatic, but apparently it's perfectly possible to stand in the middle of a swarm and not be stung.

I am definitely improving, thank you!

[minoanmiss]

Wow!

[pensnest]

It was, rather!

[yarnofariadne]

That is terrifying. I hope the beekeepers are able to solve the problem!

[pensnest]

I think the bees have solved it for themselves, as they have disappeared! But there is a hotline for people to call if they see a swarm, or a bunch of bees dangling about somewhere.

[manna]

Maybe they'll be able to find a hollow tree in the woods and found a wild colony. There's been a hive in a tres near our village for at least 5 years, now. Fly free, little bees!

[pensnest]

Indeed! Or, quite possibly, an empty hive in someone else's garden, which is how my daughter's household acquired a second set of bees. I quite like the thought of them living wild, and there are plenty of woods nearby for them to inhabit. Go, bees!

[turlough]

I hope the bees found a nice place to settle and are now living as free bees!

[pensnest]

It is a pleasing thought, indeed. I will ask Dave the Bees if he has heard of anyone acquiring a loose swarm, next time he is here.

[turps]

Wow, that must have been amazing, and quite nerve wracking, to see.

[pensnest]

It was very weird, and I did move back a bit, having been picking up stones on the side of the garden where they ended up, but the bees were very concentrated in a sort of cylinder of buzzage. Our beekeeper said they wouldn't care if a person stood in the middle of the swarm, but I don't fancy testing that!