Another Swarm

My friend Jamaica has been wanting to keep bees for ages.  She and I work together, and she recently moved into an adorable house just around the corner from me.  

I loaned her a beehive, and we both put out the word that we were looking for swarms. 

Jamaica came over this afternoon to help me with the bees I'd picked up a few weeks back. Shortly after she left, the always-awesome Yolanda from Pollinate Farm and Garden gave me a call, alerting me to a swarm just a few miles away. 

An observant neighbor has seen a swarm of bees settle on a fallen tree limb. Unfortunately, the tree limb was too large to move or cut, and was laying on the ground inside of a massive rose bush. 

With the homeowners' permission, I cut a tunnel into the rose bush, and climbed inside. 

There wasn't enough room to fit my swarm collecting box under the tree limb, so the neighbor and I brushed and scooped the bees into the box. I carry an extra bee suit when I collect swarms. It's always great to have help, and people around here tend to be pretty adventurous. 

Once the bulk of the bees were in the box, I got everyone's phone numbers, and left the bees alone. 

If all goes well, the bees will go to bed in the box, and Jamaica and I can pick them up once it gets dark. 

Wish us luck!