Alan and I were out in the pasture this evening, and as we were walking back up to the house I just about walked under a tree, right under this temporary honey bee swarm. ZOIKS! (Click on the images for a larger view.)
Good thing I looked up and saw it when I did! I was about 6' from being directly under the swarm, which hangs about 10' above the ground in this hackberry tree. A bit too close for my liking!
We'll be keeping a very close eye on the swarm, and the farm, to make sure they don't decide to set up a hive in one of our buildings. Yikes!
Learn more about temporary honey bee swarms here and here...
Bzzzzzzzzzz!
That is a lot of bees! And the moral of the story is: Always look up wherever you are going!
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | May 28, 2012 at 08:40 PM
Well I just learned a lot about bee swarming. I think I'd want it removed so it doesn't stay near your farm. Good thing you didn't disturb it. Keep up posted.
Posted by: rose kerry | May 21, 2012 at 11:03 AM
AMAZING! that is so awesome. I agree with your Dad. . . I'd make sure they weren't Africanized bees, just so you'll be safe. LOVE the photos!!! Bee careful! :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | May 20, 2012 at 05:58 PM
Photographically speaking, very beautiful shot! Allergy speaking, I'd be in the next town; highly allergic! Glad you didn't get stung!
Posted by: Sherri D. | May 18, 2012 at 09:33 PM
Truly Amazing Shots of this Swarm of Bees. So fascinating. I'm glad you didn't disturb them though.
Posted by: Ida | May 18, 2012 at 08:43 PM
*Sweet* photo Anna :)~
Posted by: Robb_eeie | May 18, 2012 at 04:09 PM
That is SUCH an awesome photo...very calendar worthy :) So glad you weren't stung to bits, eeeeek!
Posted by: Kelly Schirmer | May 18, 2012 at 06:13 AM
Cool photos! :) I agree on calling a beekeeper. European bees, since no one seems to want to send them home, should be with beekeepers. If you do decide to keep them, then you need to watch the Duck Commander episode where they decided to go get honey from 'wild' bees.
Posted by: Shala | May 17, 2012 at 10:24 PM
I was wondering if you ever thought of keeping the bees since you have a farm. They would make you some tasty honey and so much you could sell some too :)
Posted by: Pat M | May 17, 2012 at 01:40 PM
That's very cool Anna. I've had that happen here at my assisted living facility. My residents were quite amazed by it. I called a local bee keeper and he was thrilled. He came over immediately with a ladder and a styrofoam cooler and he simply put the cooler under the swarm,shook the branch and they all fell into the cooler he smacked the lid on and he took them away. We've had a very bad virus killing honey bees in this area so he was thrilled to find healthy bees to replace the dying hives. Glad you are safe and didn't bonk your pretty little head on them.
Posted by: AL Wight | May 17, 2012 at 07:45 AM
That's amazing! And a darn good thing you didn't accidently bonk your noggin on that! There would have been a lot of bees mad at you! Thanks for sharing this cool photo! :)
Posted by: Kathy Martin | May 17, 2012 at 06:13 AM
That's just disgusting!! I can't stand bees!! Good luck then them! I hope they move on quickly...and farther away!
Posted by: Lacey | May 17, 2012 at 05:35 AM
You just HAD to tell me to click on the photo, didn't you?
Posted by: Gabriela Divine | May 17, 2012 at 05:18 AM
Wow. I never knew about this. Good thing it isn't here> I'm allergic to bee stings. Serious trouble for me. I hope the right and good thing happens to these bees.
Posted by: jeanette | May 17, 2012 at 05:03 AM
YIKES!! I love the whole idea of bee keeping and honey and bees wax and pollination and all of the great things bees can do. BUT (!!!!) ( my big BUT here) that is very scary that you nearly walked into the swarm and especially that these bees aren't there at YOUR invitation. Hopefully they'll be moving along very soon. Keep us posted!
Posted by: Jennifer Woodward | May 17, 2012 at 04:32 AM
COOL.... bees are good for the garden. Hope they just visit and set up housekeeping AWAY from the buildings.
Posted by: Carol Dee | May 17, 2012 at 04:24 AM
That is so cool to look at! Glad you didn't run into it!!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 16, 2012 at 11:56 PM
Maybe you could set up some bee boxes, so you could collect honey!...wanna become a Bee Charmer??? Beeee careful!!
Posted by: Jeanne in Idaho | May 16, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Is there a possibility that a bee keeper lives in your area? It would be nice it there was so you can be sure that it is not an african swarm because they are very agresive compared to our native bees. Good luck with that! Dad
Posted by: D K Wight | May 16, 2012 at 09:21 PM
OMG Anna, this is amazing and a little creepy since I'm deathly allergic to Bee stings. Stay away and stay safe. Love the picture though!!
Posted by: Jill | May 16, 2012 at 08:07 PM