Welcome back to the Bee Sanctuary! Tonight’s mission took us to a beautiful B&B north of Pretoria, but we weren’t there for a holiday. The owner had a massive concrete water feature that had been converted into a planter, and a colony of bees had decided the hollow base was the perfect real estate.

This was easily one of our “heaviest” removals to date—literally!

The Setup: Moving the “Jungle” Base

The water feature was incredibly heavy, topped with a large decorative ball and filled with plants and soil.

• The Heavy Lift: It took some serious teamwork to lift the top section and lean it safely against a wall. Once that was clear, we had to haul the hollow concrete base out of the garden “jungle” and onto a flat patio where we could actually work.
• Orientation is Key: Before laying the base on its side, we had to carefully check the direction of the comb. If you tip a hive the wrong way, the heavy, honey-filled comb can flop over and squash the entire colony. We made sure to keep the comb vertical to the ground.

The Extraction: A Surprise “Queen Catch”

Once we opened it up, we realized this was a massive swarm. Despite the comb being quite white (usually a sign of a new hive), the sheer volume of bees suggested they had been expanding rapidly thanks to the early Spring rains and blooming flowers.

The Climax:

While sifting through the comb, Ethan had the “catch of the day.” I almost accidentally vacuumed up the Queen, but he spotted her just in time on a large piece of brood comb! We safely secured her in a Queen Clip immediately. Having her safe and clipped meant we could finish the removal freely, knowing the heart of the colony was protected.

The Relocation: Settling into Glenn Austin

We transported the colony to our Glenn Austin Apiary. Even though the bees were calm during the removal, they started to get a bit “spicy” once we began the transfer into their new 10-frame home.

• The “March” to the Queen: Once we placed the Queen inside the new hive, we watched that incredible natural phenomenon again—the workers began streaming out of the transport box and “marching” straight toward her scent.
• Spring Jumpstart: Because it’s the start of Spring and they’ve been working hard, we made sure to set them up with plenty of space to grow. This colony is huge, and with the current nectar flow, they’re going to be a powerhouse.

Mission Accomplished

From a heavy concrete base at a B&B to a professional hive in Glenn Austin! It was a tough, physical job, but seeing that Queen safe in her clip made every bit of heavy lifting worth it.

Want to see how this “Water Feature” colony handles the Spring flow?

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Quick Question: What’s the heaviest thing you’ve ever had to move in your garden? Imagine doing it while thousands of bees are watching! Let’s hear your stories in the comments.