Thy neighbors’ bees
I’m sure you’ve heard all kinds of horror stories about beekeepers and their neighbors–usually threats, warnings, or fears of some type. Well, here’s one I can’t get my mind around. It was relayed to me last summer, soon after our new neighbors began tending their garden:
Wife to husband, as she pauses with trowel in hand: “Wow, there are so many bees around here! I’ve never seen so many bees. They’re all over the flowers. Do you think they will sting the kids?”
Husband to wife: “Don’t worry, hon. They’re the neighbors’ bees.”
Wife to husband: “Oh, I didn’t know that. Okay, then.” And she goes back to work, ignoring the bees. End of conversation.
Seriously, I don’t get it. Because they belong to us they aren’t threatening? They don’t sting? They’re kid friendly? Do they think I’ve given them instructions? “Mind your manners over there or no t.v. tonight!”
Does ownership make bees nice? Domesticated instead of wild? Civilized and orderly? Respectful of private property? Educated, perhaps?
Or are they still mean, threatening, and sting happy, but because they belong next door you take it in stride? Like neighborhood dogs, you accept them as a fact of life?
Yes, I am grateful, but if anyone can explain it to me, you have my rapt attention. The more I think about it, the curiouser it gets.
Rusty
HoneyBeeSuite
Comments
[via Twitter] @HoneyBeeSuite Hilarious! Maybe they think you are an expert bee trainer!
Lol, don’t complain too loud, at least ignorance is working to your advantage this time:) I live just outside of a tiny town and am fortunate enough to have nice neighbours. I walked into town the other day and found bees all over this one house, I don’t know why just that house. So this lady comes to ask me why all the bees (she probably knows I keep bees) and I tell her the season is early and no flowers are up so they are looking for food.
She then asks me if I am even allowed to keep bees this close to town. Let me say I live in farm country and her house is more then a city block away from my hives plus we have about an acre of land. Made me so mad, I don’t know what she expected me to say, “No, I’m not allowed to keep ‘em this close to town. I’m doing it to annoy you”. I find people are disproportionally afraid of bees; most have never been stung by a honey bee before and rarely by anything else but are terrified of them. When they are foraging you can kick, slap or flick them around and they wont attack you.They just fly off. If you get one stuck in your sandal though . . .
I nearly slapped my cousin when he stomped on a bee on purpose. I’m still a tad mad about it.
Perhaps it was merely acquiescence. “Oh, they are the neighbors’ (those REAALY nice neighbors)…. so they aren’t going anywhere” (even if they DO sting)
I think it’s the assumption that they are domesticated instead of wild bees, which could be those crazy killer bees. Of course your bees aren’t domesticated, and of course our wild bees here aren’t Africanized bees.
Or maybe she’s just hoping for some honey this summer….
I personally tell my bees to only sting people over 1 kilometre away, it seems to work
My neighbour loves our bees as his vegetable garden has twice the production this season; it feels good to know that our bees are helping to feed the local area.
Thanks…Gary
Kiwimana
I’m lucky I have nice neighbors. They welcomed my bees four years ago. Last year they put in a salt water swimming pool that my bees love. I try to make sure my bees have easy access to water, but think they must be drawn to the salt. Many of my bees drown in their pool and swimming and relaxing poolside with lots of bees can’t be fun for my neighbors and their young grandchildren. Any advice to managing this?
Wren,
Short of putting in your own saltwater pool, I’m not sure. See if you can get a little of the saltwater (or whatever mixture they add to make the pool salty) and set up a watering hole for them (where they won’t drown) that has a similar chemical composition to the pool. It may divert a percentage of the ones going to the pool. I’m sure you won’t get all of them, but if you divert part it may be better for your neighbors.
That’s a tough problem to solve. Be sure to let your neighbors know what you are trying to do. They will probably appreciate your attempts to help even if they don’t work perfectly.
Thank you so much Rusty. That sure sounds worth a try. Last year I used a small blue kids swiming pool with rocks in it thinking maybe the blue was part of the appeal. It didn’t work but this time I might put in some of the pool water…or something like it…and see what happens.
Appreciatively,
Wren
The bees belonging to a GOOD neighbor get a pass, up to the point a bare foot steps on one. From what I’ve read of your blogs you come across as a caring, compassionate and loving person, therefore your neighbors feel your bees are OK too.