Nature meets Life: bees, bees, and dead trees

The neighborhood I grew up in was once a walnut orchard. We had seven trees in our yard and picking up walnuts was a very common chore for my sister and I. Like, all the time and especially after church on Sundays. Gradually, the trees died off, until all we had was one in the backyard and one in the frontyard on the corner where the school kids pass.

And that tree became a home to bees. The tree died, but because there were bees in it, the City didn't want to cut it down. Finally, they realized that, yes, bees are in trouble population-wise right now, but this hive is near a school path, is untended, and growing steadily in a dead tree (also a hazard).

So, the City cut it down. They had to kill the bees because the hive was inside, and while they were annihilating said hive, my dad moseyed outside and asked if he could have the honeycomb. He's a curious guy, wanted to check it out, and thought it was going to be a small piece of the tree. Nope. The city put the entire tree section by the garage.

A few hours later, my parents are out and I stop by after a Ptown site visit. Parking my car in the driveway, I was about to get out when I noticed a bee by my door. And then one on my windshield. And then flying allllll over. I looked around and saw this:

Closer look? here:

I was so confused. Why did my parents have a bee hive? Why was it sitting by the gate? Is this a new garden experiment? Crap, I'm moving my car!

Every bee that had been out foraging when the hive was destroyed, had returned home. They were zooming around the moved stump, wandering aimlessly in the vicinity of the ghost-tree. Scientifically, it was fascinating. In practice, it was a bit sad.

My dad eventually called the City to come and take care of the stump, and it vanished before you could blink an eye. The whole situation made me think about bees and urban populations, local gardens, and local propagation. Not everyone is okay with it, as shown by the destroying of the Hayes Valley Farm bee hives earlier this week. Honey bees. We totally take them for granted.