Attack of the Not-so-killer Bees 

On Saturday morning, (Earth Day) the day dawned really warm.  First one all year with no fog in the morning and bright sun.  We were up early (for us) and went downstairs to start our regular morning routine (feed the cats, make coffee and breakfast, let the chickens out).   Rod called me out to the garage and told me to stay way from my car -- their were bees beginning to swarm around there in pretty good numbers.  

Ok by me because I had a lot to do that day around the house including picking the first lilacs of the season -- my favorites.  

But by that afternoon, Rod called me again from where I was scrubbing the tiles on our upstairs balcony plant landing and told me to "drop everything -- you've got to see this!!!".  I hurried down the spiral staircase 

and came around the corner and WOW!!!!! 

Those bees had definitely taken up residence .  From the morning when the swarm was small 

it had morphed into a huge hive!!!!!  We stood there watching it for awhile then Rod went on line and we learned a lot about our bees. 

Turns out our hive is probably the result of  scout bees not finding anywhere else suitable for the new colony, so they settled here with their queen to start a new colony.  Very, very cool but the location -- not so cool.  Our bees were no longer a swarm -- but a colony. 

So it was on the phone and onto Craigslist to find a beekeeper to remove them.  We found one on Craigslist who would come and get the bees  --- for free!!!! Such a deal.    Now we only had to wait until he could come and take away our sweeties 

http://www.youtube.com/user/rodneyracer?feature=mhee

The above is a link to Rod's YouTube page that shows a walk around of the bees at their peak. 

Sunday evening, Rokas from Lithuania showed up with his smoker, bee boxes, straps, blankets, and a fine-haired brush (but a big brush).  Rokas learned about keeping bees in his home country and now sells honey at the Oxbow Market and had just returned from the Home & Garden show in Vacaville.  

We rigged up a stand from ladders, and Rokas carefully placed the bee box on top of the ladder as close to the hive as he could.   Then he lit a rag in the smoker and pumped up the smoke, carefully spraying the bees with the smoke.   He laid out a blanket on the ground, and some long rubber tie downs. Climbing another ladder, Rokas gently brushed the bees from the door sill into the bee box.  

Immediately, there was a loud and grumpy buzzing, but the bees did not fly out and did not sting .  The box was placed carefully on the blanket, and the frames gently inserted.   Then the cover was placed on the box, and Rokas wrapped the whole box in the blanket, securing everything with the rubber ties downs.  

Then goodbye bees.  To assure that no other swarm would find this tempting location for their new home, we scrubbed and scraped the door sill and then wiped it  down with cinnamon mixed with oil.  Rokas said that bees do not like cinnamon.  Just to be sure, I am also going to follow up with eucalyptus oil this afternoon.  

This morning there are still a few bees buzzing mournfully around wondering what happened to all of their pals.  I hope they find a new group to hook up with.

I think I'll go down to the Oxbow Market and buy some of Rokas' honey!!!!!