Saved By a Skunk

                                                                           

We who garden know that we do not work alone.  Some of the natives aid us in our attempts to grow flowers and vegetables.  Others think only of themselves and see us as intruders.  That is the case with a kind of bee that has its nest underground.  Vegetation hides the entrance to the hive so one comes upon the danger without warning.  An attack by the entire population quickly follows.  We usually just let the bees have that area until frost renders them dormant or dead.

Yesterday this area was swarming with angry bees.  It was apparent that their nest had been disturbed.  We followed our usual practice of staying clear of the area.  A different approach to the garden allowed us to safely continue our work there.

Once before Becky was working in a garden when she inadvertently disturbed a ground bee's nest.  What to do next was a bit of a puzzle.  That night a skunk visited eating both the bees and their stores.  Just like that my problem was solved.  Here again a skunk likely found a sweet meal.  How they deal with the stings remains unknown.  There is simply no way that I am deliberately going to place myself near a skunk and angry bees.  Here again the problem is solved.  Yesterday there were many bees flying about.  Today only a single dispirited bee was seen.  I was able to get close to take the pictures and the bee simply ignored me.