the queen has landed

This may look like just a picture of a tree right outside my kitchen window, but at closer glance...







Yep. Bees.

Lots of them.

This afternoon, I was in my kitchen, doing dishes, when I noticed lots of bees flying in front of me, right outside the window.

I went over to the glass sliding doors to get a better look, and when I looked out, I gasped outloud, and yelled, "Porter, come here! Quick!"

Bees were everywhere. Hundreds and hundreds of them - flying and swarming like they were not quite sure where to go. But the funny thing about it was, there was not one single bee in either of my neighbors back yards and the bees were not in the front yard. I have never seen anything like it in my life.

I made sure my kids were safe inside the house and that the doors and windows were secure, and then I got on the phone and made some phone calls and began googling on the internet.

I found out that this time of year is when hives have to split because there are too many bees in a hive. So, bees will fill themselves with honey, say goodbye to their old home and start looking for a new home.

It just happened, this time, to be in my backyard, where the lilacs and other varieties are in full bloom.

I was told to watch them, and see if I could tell where they were landing...because that's where the queen would be...

Well, the queen landed. In our tree. And so have all her admirers.






Tonight, they have settled and I was brave enough to actually go out on the deck, a couple feet away from them, and watch them. (Whereas, earlier, I was taking all these pictures with my telephoto lens from inside my dining room).










They are beautiful, amazing creatures.

In all of my researching today, I actually found out that to be able to witness this is quite a rare occurrence.





I think I will go fix a peanut butter and honey sandwich in honor of my bee friends.

I'm just wondering what it is I'm supposed to do if they're still there in the morning.