Bee Story

The hum of bees is the voice of the garden.”
-Elizabeth Lawrence

Despite my husband’s collection of movies with homicidal insects, we do love bees. Spring and summer days there is nothing so meditative as working in the garden alongside our happy pollinators.

The early blooming landscape in the front of our home brings a crowd every year. I’m happy to provide a source of pollen, even as I start my yearly round of allergy meds.

The first days of warmer weather this year brought an unexpected crowd. A bee swarm arrived overnight, clustered around their queen like fans seeking autographs at a Taylor Swift concert.

They took up residence in an unlikely spot beneath the platform bird feeder. The birds were not happy sharing their space, but like us they left the bees alone. Online research assured me the swarm would leave on its own, once the scout bees found a suitable place for the new hive.

Three days passed – the expected timeline for departure, and the swarm still clung to the bird feeder. Then the forecast predicted rain.

“Should we try and move them?” I wondered to Andrew. “There’s no protection from the weather.”

He considered buying a wooden beehive box. I pictured him swathed head to toe in a white beekeeper suit, one of those hooded hats with a veil topping his head.

We decided to let the bees work it out on their own.

That evening a storm blew through. We woke the next morning and found the platform empty. We had a moment of rejoicing, then I noticed the clump of sodden bees on the ground. Closer inspection showed movement. They fanned their wings, attempting to dry out enough to fly.

“They need energy!” Andrew found a bottle of hummingbird nectar and poured some on a plate. We weren’t sure if the bees would find it appetizing, but as they gradually regained their flight they gathered around the plate like frat boys at a free beer happy hour.

We expected the bees to find a new home after they filled up on nectar.

They did.

These bees were the type of guests that did not want to turn down free room and board. Ignoring the platform where they had tried to shelter during the rain storm, they migrated to the post holding the platform. At least they were mostly huddled under the metal cone that protected the feeders from curious squirrels.

They stayed on the post for another two days. The scout bees buzzed in tight circles, darting off now and then but always returning to the swarm. Finally, by some bee consensus we weren’t privy to, they decided to leave. I hope they found a good place to set up a new hive. One close enough they can visit and pollinate my vegetables this spring and summer, but far enough away they won’t be tempted for a longer stay.