Bee Season

Many animals have wandered in and out of our La Jolla property for forty years. We've had raccoons run the roof in combat boots. Skunks have perfumed the yard. One of our dogs got caught underneath the house for a week before we could find him. Lady bugs and stick insects appear along with a snail or two.

Black phoebes, hummingbirds, house finches, mockingbirds, towhees, jays et al grace the skies and pepper tree branches. Most days, wild parrots squawk as they pass overhead. Spiders, the size of crabs, spin their webs for Halloween. One year, Painted Lady butterflies alighted in swarms and added motion and color to the leaves and flowers.

Last week I noticed bees cavorting at the water meter box on the street. They circled and went into a slit in the cement cover. I researched what to do. Bees have such value and fragility in our ecology, I didn't want them destroyed if possible. 

A call to the city provided no answers.  Of course, they would want to eradicate the hive so their meter readers can gain access. I did not follow up on the initial call as a result.

Magic swirls in connections. A friend told me of someone who had started beekeeping. I realized she had taught yoga classes I attended years ago.  A call and dear Robin arrived to discover ways to save the colony. She brought equipment to transfer the bee family to a new environment. 

Hurrah for The Bee Queen

An amazement in size! Combs Robin brought from under the water meter box.

 Hives pushed into frames with rubber bands

Robin, clothed and prepared, discovered six combs packed with honey, brood and pollen. The largest combs extended 20 inches long and 15 inches deep.  My curiosity and camera brought me, wearing shorts and t-shirt, close into the various stages. 

Honey dripped everywhere revealing a worm bee stage. Unfortunately, the
wrigglies would not survive. The objective became to preserve most of the colony.

At one time the bees appeared agitated and began to emit rumbles and buzzes. Robin fired up a smoker which soothed them with the aroma of sage. They never appeared aggressive. A few would bump against me from time to time. Fascinated by the project, my excitement negated the need for protective clothing!  I wished for the scent of honey to permeate the air.

The large comb fit into the frames

Honey . . . yum!

The bees seemed eager to enter their new home.

The lid to the water meter with the comb removed.

By sunset many bees had transferred to the box. Clumps of bees still remained busy in the water meter box.  

Indefatigable, the bees inside the water meter box continued their work.  

What will happen next?   I'll wait and Bee-lieve for the best. Oh! for a taste of honey.