So glad to hear about the happy ending - I was worried you would have to use drastic measures as the last resort(I am a PETA kind person...)

Amazing how bees operate
What amazed me even more is your beautiful specimen of Dend anceps!

Olya

Wow! that is amazing construction. Glad they decided your Shcom. basket wasn't dry enough for a perminant home though. Sambac, are you growing the Schom. and the Dend. anceps in full sun? I don't see a lot of shade in your pictures. How often to you water them?

Meg

Couldn't open the first thread - guess it was a large pic? So glad you didn't have to resort to drastic measures, given the scarcity of honey bees. I will certainly keep an eye on my outdoor baskets from now on. Wow!

Marci

Thanks Olya. Meg- Schom and anceps are in full sun since Oct. I will move the anceps to tree branch by March when it gets hotter. Schom seems to enjoy the full sun.
Marci this is the before pics: sorry about the large size, realised it after I posted.
{{gwi:143249}}

Oh, thank goodness they left of their own accord. The combs are wondrous.

Good for you for not vaporizing them with something you wouldn't want that beautiful egret breathing.

Sweet dreams tonight. Whitecat8

That is just amazing Sambac! Thanks for the update with pictures. I'm so happy you didn't call 'Tree man Tom' OR 'Lawn man Ray' ......for some reason chemicals and death come to mind.....EEEK! I've thought about this several times today and wondered what you would do. I am so glad no harm came to you, or the bees.

Get a good nights sleep tonight! You've done us all proud......;0)) "Nature is beautiful" yes...yes it is..
Pat.....

Sambac, I had a "swarm" 10 times that size last year in one of my oak trees. We were very concerned because my husband is very allergic to bees. I found some local bee-keepers on the web and they came over to educate us on honey bees. The air was abuzz within hundreds of feet from the tree but the bees just went on their merry way, threatening no one.

It was something I will remember forever, truly an awesome sight!!! I traded the beekeepers some tomato plants for their wisdom and time and am even considering setting up some hives in my yard-fresh honey!

With all the bad-stuff going on out there-consider yourself lucky!!

You made my day!

Jane

Nature is wonderful! What a stunning and beautiful thing to see! I'm so glad that it worked out peacefully for you and the bees, and I"m so glad that you shared this with us.

thank you,
Carolyn

Sambac - thanks for resizing that pic. What a sight! I'm sooooo glad it all worked out!

Marci

I am soo glad, they decided to do what they decided, irrespective of our 'human plans'. I am also glad I had the restraint , not to pull out any bug spray from the garage( was not in the plan). May be, I got very possessive 'coz it was occupying my orchid basket......
Carolyn I totally agree with you, it is an amazing process-my fear for them has changed into fascination.
Think about it, why would you work so hard to make that hive and abandon it the next day?!!
Mama Queen bee needs to plan better.....

I love to read the bee-keeping forum on the Home Site. It is fascinating reading how people live, raise and farm these incredible insects. They have such respect and love for their bees and work very hard to care for them. In return their crops get pollinated, but mostly they take the honey.

Honey bees are not dangerous and very social. They deserve our care to keep them from harm. Over the years I have worked hard to encourage them to visit my flower beds by planting flowers that attract them. I have never been stung or harmed in any way by them. I work among them easily.

They are a wonderful thing.....

Jane

Jane, will check out that forum. When I was searching all that came through was' sevin'.