heh heh...Update on mowing near bees!

johnnybigfish · August 17, 2008, 11:10:36 PM

Ok,...I cant find the old post on my advice on how I mow around my bees. Anyways, I said i mowed around my beehives and pull weeds with my hands...I have no problems with my bees getting after me :roll:
Anyways, as of today.......I was mowing with my big mower awhile ago...around my hives, just having a grand 'ol time.....And, as I came around my "Beaver Dam"(Inside joke from previous post) Its really a wind block.....I saw a ton of bees flying around, and i said to myself,"What great timing!..I can catch this swarm!".....It wasnt 10 seconds until i realized that this was NO SWARM!!!...THEY WERE COMING AFTER ME!!!!...(Giggling out loud now.... :))...I had my mower set really low, but I didnt really care....I just knew i had to drive like heck to get out of there!!..And I had to get around some trees!!!...I was out of control now!!!I had that mower running full blast!!!.In and out of trees!!!...Then, I was shooting across the yard trying to get away but I had to turn all over the place, zigzagging everywhere!(This is a ZTR mower)....I finally had to jump ship and run in the house, cussin' and flailin' and yellin'!!!..The bees still a chasin' me!!!...
I got stung about 10 times before it was all over...The bees hung around my mower for about 20 minutes before i could finish mowing.
The funny part now.....I looked back at the yard where I was gonna start back mowing again.......There, all over the biggest grassy part of my yard were zigzag trails 3 inches deeper than the rest of my yard, and it wont get grown even for about 2 weeks now unless it rains!!
I guess it was my bees day to teach me a lesson.
I'm gonna have to get a faster mower!

your friend,
john

TwT · August 18, 2008, 12:02:24 AM

Bahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D , sitting here reading this I could picture it because I had my mower going wide open a couple of times headed towards the house with a Calvary in chase, I didn't get stung but got headbutted about 50 times, some days they don't pay me any attention and been a couple where they started after me before I could get to the hives, bunch of ole moody women!!!!!! :-P now I put my jacket on when mowing close to the hives.

bassman1977 · August 18, 2008, 12:16:56 AM

I've never got stung directly due to mowing by my hives, but I don't hang around either. I'm in high gear when I drive by. I did run over one of their watering holes once and got nailed on the back of the neck. 2 years later I still have a little lump where I got hit.

That's a pretty funny story. I'm glad it didn't turn out worse. Thanks for sharing.

qa33010 · August 18, 2008, 02:29:35 AM

This was a couple months ago when I posted. and the swelling had just started. I'm a slow mower. :'(

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm237/4kids4christmas/P1030549.jpg

After the swelling had reached its peak I was at the BX on base in the electronics department when a child kept insistantly calling his mom. When I was about to suggest she might want to see what was so important I heard an exasperated "What?!" Where he , in an accusing voice, proclaimed that, "You said the boogie man was not real!"

Turning to the voice I saw a small finger pointing at me and a face turning from me to his mom. But that's another post. Sorry.

I really was smiling in the picture. Didn't mean to hijack.

TwT · August 18, 2008, 06:16:53 AM

Quote from: qa33010 on August 18, 2008, 02:29:35 AM
This was a couple months ago when I posted. and the swelling had just started. I'm a slow mower. :'(

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm237/4kids4christmas/P1030549.jpg

After the swelling had reached its peak I was at the BX on base in the electronics department when a child kept insistantly calling his mom. When I was about to suggest she might want to see what was so important I heard an exasperated "What?!" Where he , in an accusing voice, proclaimed that, "You said the boogie man was not real!"

Turning to the voice I saw a small finger pointing at me and a face turning from me to his mom. But that's another post. Sorry.

I really was smiling in the picture. Didn't mean to hijack.

one suggestion, wear your veil or get a faster mower :evil: ;)

randydrivesabus · August 18, 2008, 07:04:54 AM

seems like this time of year the bees are very grouchy. but that was a nice visual description johnny....like a cartoon. looks like a bee veil should be standard equipment for your mower.

Big John · August 18, 2008, 08:54:29 AM

I have learned one thing the hard way, it has been a lot better mowing if you put the bottom in if you have SSB, have not been stung since I remember to do this ever time.

JP · August 18, 2008, 10:05:31 AM

Would sure like to see some pics!!!

...JP ;)

octagon · August 18, 2008, 01:03:29 PM

I mow fast and early in the morning, the same with rototilling as a few hives are near the garden, haven't been stung yet.

Card · August 18, 2008, 01:29:18 PM

My two colonies are both first-year, and they've both been extremely un-agressive, so I haven't had any problem mowing or weedeating around the hives.

Flashlights, though? Huh-uh. Don't even think about going out there at night and shining a flashlight on them. My girls hate that.

alflyguy · August 18, 2008, 04:23:56 PM

I've worried about cutting the grass next to my hives. I usually weed eat next to them wearing a veil. I use an electric weed eater which doesn't seem to bother them much. My dad does the rest with a riding more. He doesn't wear a veil and so far he hasn't been stung. Anyway, great story. I'll share it with my 76 year old dad.

Ross · August 18, 2008, 05:42:43 PM

I hate to say I told you so.....no, not really. I told you so :evil: