Gardening - Update on the bees

Its seems that they will be leaving this evening.......

After Leslie and Abigail collected the bees yesterday, they were carefully put into a new nucleus and the others hives checked.  Whilst walking back to the house Abigail removed her veil and received 2 bee stings to her head and ear.  She thought nothing of it, took some medication and went home but within 40 minutes she had a severe reaction and ended up in A&E.  It turns out that she is now hypersensitive to bee stings, so they can't risk keeping them.

To be honest whilst it is sad to see them go, they went for me again whilst I was in the greenhouse this morning and Peter got chased again, and his arm is really swollen from yesterdays stings.  Its no pleasure down the end of the garden at the moment, they obviously aren't happy.  I think they will be much happier in a farm setting away from people.  And I will be happier knowing that the boys can play in the garden without the fear of bee stings.

BTW - the chickens keep making a bid for freedom, their new run extension arrives tomorrow

How pretty are these flowers on my bay tree?

And the promised of figs this year.  Lots have over-wintered so we are keeping our fingers crossed

Gardening - the birds and the bees

All go in our garden again this weekend.  Yesterday we removed so of the ivy from the back and side of the house.  You know its time when it starts growing over the windows!

Then today we have been clearing some overhanging branches from the bottom of the garden whilst trying to avoid some visitors.

Our neighbours have 2 beehives.  One swarmed on Tuesday but by the time I had raised the alarm they were long gone. This morning there was lots of activity along the fence line and by the time I had got Leslie round they had taken up residence in our beech hedge.

this shot was taken with my short lens

Leslie wasn't able to remove the queen on his own so decided to wait til his daughter was home and then try again.

The following photos were taken with my long lens, though the bees seemed quite happy at this point.

We carried on clearing up

Then along came Abigail and collection commenced

It was fascinating to watch from a distance.

Peter and girls getting friendly, one is happier than the other to pick up.

So those remaining bees were pretty ticked off once their queen was taken away.  I was trying to water my greenhouse and got 2 bees in my hair, freaked out completely and ended up having to run away. Peter tried to finish and got stung twice, to add to an earlier sting, then chased up the garden.  We are waiting till later to go back down.

And this is his other injury, had a argument with a saw!!  Gardening really can be quite hazardous!

I didn't mean to laugh!!

Peter got a bit of a surprise this morning.  Dressed ready for work, standing in the bedroom stroking the cat, chatting, suddenly he grabs the seat of his trousers "oh my god I've been stung, there's something in my underpants".  Frantically he pulls his trousers and pants off and there is a queen wasp!!  She has stung his bottom!!  The only thing we can think is that she flew into his pants on the washing line yesterday, I bought them in, folded and put in the airing cupboard, and the rest you know.  He just called in to pick up his wallet left in the commotion earlier, I enquired on the sting, "its sore" was the reply.  Guess it will be uncomfortable as he has to sit on it all day, we will both be checking our underwear for a while.....