Tomorrow at Bedford Square, Savannah Bee Company celebrates National Honey Bee Day.
A bee-you-tiful celebration of a different kind took place Wednesday, on Caccamo Lane.
The night before, one of Savannah Bee’s youngest “bee ambassadors” — 9-year-old Hope Vengrow — called. A neighbor had lost a tree during Tropical Storm Isaias. It housed a wild honeybee hive, and would be cut up and removed by a tree service in a day or two.
Hope Vengrow, and the Caccamo Lane tree.
Hope worried that the bees would be sprayed, or otherwise harmed by the arborists.
Master beekeepers Jim Wood and Mike Lund rode to the rescue. The members of the BackYard Beekeepers Association spent Wednesday locating the nest, using a buzz saw to remove the sections that housed it, gently removing the bees, and relocating them in a Langstroth hive box — only to have them swarm on a 25-foot tree branch above.
Beekeepers to the rescue!
Retired Fairfield detective and Aspetuck Land Trust’s Ranger Jim helped next. They MacGyvered a Poland Spring jug to the end of a telescoping pole with a net, safely capturing the entire swarm.
“The chances of catching a swarm are slim to none. Losing their hive to swarming is a way of life for many beekeepers,” says Samantha Bee store manager Julie Cook.
“But Hope’s spirit, and Jim and Mike’s perseverance, saved the bees and the day.”
A closeup of the hive.
So tomorrow’s National Honey Bee Day celebration will be extra special. In addition to honey roasted coffee, artisanal teas, all-natural Italian energy drinks called BEEBAD, all-natural plant-based antibacterial soaps and more, from 1 to 4 p.m. you can meet Westport’s newest bee heroes.
SWEET FACT: The Back Yard Beekeepers Association has over 250 members. They meet (virtually and otherwise) the last Tuesday of each month via Zoom, and at Norfield Church in Weston. Their mission is to protect, save and enjoy honey bees and native bees.
Love the team work that went into saving these precious bees – beginning with Westport’s wonderful young bee ambassador Hope! I know I’ll bee at Savannah tomorrow. Word is you don’t want to bee late.
very very cool.
funny great story all around, Hope got us connected in the great Circle of Life and the Lombardos saved a little bit of the Earth this week saving their backyard bees! well done all!
Sweet story! 🙂
Nice job Hope!
Of course they used a ‘buzz saw’ to open the tree!
I loved this story! Hope Vengrow is a great kid. Many thanks to the kind “helpers” who came to the rescue. And the “buzz saw” pun made me think of “Anna” who works at Whole Foods in Westport. Every time I see Anna (she is usually outside, rounding up the shopping carts) she tells me a riddle. I am pretty sure that “What do you use to get a bee hive down from a tree? Answer: A buzz saw.” is one of Anna’s riddles. Thanks for the chuckle!
What a wonderfully sweet story !
Love this store thanks for sharing
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