Bees -what would you do?
A few weeks ago, there were a ton of bees building many nests on our garage. My boy sprayed the heck out of the garage with bee poison, and a little of it dripped on my tomato beds. (edited to add: NOT my choice, was done while I was work without consulting me)
We did research and found out that the chemical and concentration of the poison is exactly the same as commonly used pesticides, so I relaxed a little, sprayed the heck out of the beds with water, and planted a few days later.
The bees have been at a manageable number since, but there are some acting rather agressive around the yard again. One of them hovers in front of the tomato plants and zooms above our heads.
This wouldn't be a problem if I didn't have such a small yard. My soil is no more than 15'x50'. I don't really have anywhere to run away from. Normally I would ignore them, since we need the bees, but they are starting to climb in the garage and seem to be making nests again.
My boy would like to do something about them tomorrow. He has suggested spraying them with water, which seems stupid and suidical IMHO. I really don't want hives in my garage.
What would you do?
Edited to add: They are most definately big, fat, fuzzy bumblebees. They are in love with my blueberry plants, and spend sun up to sun down collecting pollen from the blueberry flowers. If I had seen someone else post this, I would say to them "Bumblebees are our friends, they pollenate!", but I guess it's easier to talk the talk, then walk the walk with them buzzing over my head. I'm fine with them hanging out in my yard, but don't want them to build a nest in my TINY yard, and would like to encorage them to nest elsewhere, hopefully organically.
edited again: Please refrain from things like
00goddess's name calling. Many of you have been very helpful, thanks. Some of you have told me that they are not agressive. While I haven't been stung, when I water the plants in that half of the yard, they dive bomb my head. Some people at OG seem to think they might be carpenter bees: http://forums.organicgardening.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8041078301/m/4441098982 .
We did research and found out that the chemical and concentration of the poison is exactly the same as commonly used pesticides, so I relaxed a little, sprayed the heck out of the beds with water, and planted a few days later.
The bees have been at a manageable number since, but there are some acting rather agressive around the yard again. One of them hovers in front of the tomato plants and zooms above our heads.
This wouldn't be a problem if I didn't have such a small yard. My soil is no more than 15'x50'. I don't really have anywhere to run away from. Normally I would ignore them, since we need the bees, but they are starting to climb in the garage and seem to be making nests again.
My boy would like to do something about them tomorrow. He has suggested spraying them with water, which seems stupid and suidical IMHO. I really don't want hives in my garage.
What would you do?
Edited to add: They are most definately big, fat, fuzzy bumblebees. They are in love with my blueberry plants, and spend sun up to sun down collecting pollen from the blueberry flowers. If I had seen someone else post this, I would say to them "Bumblebees are our friends, they pollenate!", but I guess it's easier to talk the talk, then walk the walk with them buzzing over my head. I'm fine with them hanging out in my yard, but don't want them to build a nest in my TINY yard, and would like to encorage them to nest elsewhere, hopefully organically.
edited again: Please refrain from things like
00goddess's name calling. Many of you have been very helpful, thanks. Some of you have told me that they are not agressive. While I haven't been stung, when I water the plants in that half of the yard, they dive bomb my head. Some people at OG seem to think they might be carpenter bees: http://forums.organicgardening.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8041078301/m/4441098982 .