08/05/2021
Woke up yesterday to find one of my hanging baskets in a tree had been overcome with bees. I contacted a local bee keeper who was very excited to come and reinstall it in his own garden. David and his little son/apprentis Gabin carefully installed the temporary travel hive beneath the swarm and we all crossed our fingers the queen would decide to move house. She did. With the help of a little smoke to disorientate and calm them, most of her group followed , only one or two stayed behind. Thanks to this lovely family's patience in explaining the procedure and a few facts about bee-keeping the whole episode was very informative. Several scouts who were sent out to look for a more permanent home will come back to find the colony gone, but they will then integrate back into their old one.
Photos taken and published with permission from Mrs Quertinier.
