First of all, here is my handsome kitty, Cougar. He seems to be fully recovered from his cold. He and all the cats were out there with me. Even Bubbie went outside, but he got in the Lily of the Valley and all you could see of him was just bits here and there.
Then we have this. Yep, it is a hornet's nest being built. It is on our old garage....right by the sidewalk we have to use to go to the new garage.
I was about two feet away taking these pictures. Which is fine in good weather. If we always had good weather I would just leave it. But when storms start moving in, it has been my experience that at least honey bees and these type of bees get a little bit meaner.
Do you wonder what I mean by 'my experience?' Well, we rented honey bees and had a hive or two near the blackberries when I worked at the orchard. They set just a few feet off the road...and lots of times I walked up to within 3 or 4 feet of them and they didn't seem to mind. Later on in the summer, a storm was moving in, and I was down there trying to get some blackberries picked, and I was at least 75-100 feet away from the hives and they came chasing me down. No joke. I had to run for my life....well, maybe not life. But I don't like to be stung. By anything.Several times we had hornet's nests in the apple trees. One particular year, there was one in the Jonathan's....again, normally, I would get right up to them and them pay me no mind. This one day I was picking, and just something about the way they were keeping vigil, I didn't even pick on the tree they were in. I got the one before it and the one after it. I was okay...but I forgot to tell Michael who took over when I left. So he came down the other side of the row...and he got stung two or three times. I guess the storm was closer, because they got after him a couple trees away.
Since those times, I give all bees lots of room if the weather is changing...
Notice the sacs on this bee...
And notice the tomatoes....not a single one is ripe. At least of the regular tomatoes. We did bring one of the little cherry tomatoes in. But have not eaten it.Not sure when I will be back on...not sure if I am bringing Lorelei here in the morn or just staying at Sarah's.
Nice shots of the hornet's nest!
ReplyDeleteThey're all nice shots though.
We don't have tomatoes yet and I can hardly wait for fresh ones on my sandwiches.
Hi Rose, Hope Lorelei is not sick--nor her mama... Since you have to go to Terre Haute, it made me wonder what is going on.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid of bees also--and do NOT want to be stung. Be care going in or around the old garage. (How do you get rid of them????)
Cute kitty...
Be careful on the road.
Hugs,
Betsy
Drive carefully and when you get home "bee" careful!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, but makes me a little nervous seeing you so close to the bee...I am very alergic and carry an Epipen all the time! Hubby encountered a nest on Sat. and was stung multiple times...he did get rid of the nest, it was large and full! Hugs to Lorelei...hope all is OK and the trip is a planned trip!
ReplyDeleteThat is a contented looking cat :-) Hope you can get rid of the hornet's nest. We've had them before and all I remember is waiting for cooler weather to get rid of them, but we were lucky enough they were not close to the house.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose it was interesting reading about your bees, it seems to be very busy with them around here at the moment.... as yet they are friendly enough... but come August they can get mean.... wasps more so.
ReplyDeleteKeep well... Our Grandson Malaki was due on he 4th, but as yet seems happy where he is... ha!
Tom
Have you seen those "fake" hornet's nests? I saw them for sale in the local hardward chain (Canadian Tire). They are the same size and color as a real nest, and have been printed with even a similar-looking textures. Apparently, you hang one up, if there's a nest w/in a certain area the real wasps go somewhere else!
ReplyDeleteI like your photos. I stay clear of hornet's nests. I like the tomatoes on the vine. Mine are getting close to being ready to eat.
ReplyDeleteEW! Hornets!
ReplyDeleteMy tomatoes are nowhere near ready for eating. Mine are still flowers. LOL