It’s déjà vu at the Bee Sanctuary! Today we’re back in North Riding for a rescue that looks almost identical to a previous removal we did last year. We are dealing with another swarm that has made its home inside a decorative ceramic pot filled with bamboo poles.

The Plan: Protecting the Garden

Because the pot was nestled among delicate garden plants, our first step was to carefully lift the entire unit onto the paving.

• The Strategy: We wanted a clear, open workspace to avoid trampling the homeowner’s landscaping.
• The Gear: Based on the pot’s size, we didn’t expect a massive colony, so we arrived with our bee vac and a standard super.

The Extraction: Chilled and Cooperative

Once we got into the pot, we found a very manageable swarm.

• The Mood: These bees were incredibly “chilled.” Even as we moved the bamboo and began the vacuuming process, they remained calm and non-aggressive.
• The Comb: We retrieved several healthy pieces of comb and prepared them for the new hive.

The Transfer: 10-Frame Upgrade

We transported the bees to the Kyalami Apiary for the final hiving.

1. The Box: Although they were a medium-sized swarm, we hived them into a 10-frame brood box because it was what we had on hand and ready to go.
2. The “Booster”: We added some extra clean comb into the box to give them a head start and more surface area to cluster on.
3. The Final March: We released the bees from the vacuum box into the new brood chamber. They settled in quickly, and we’re hoping this “bamboo pot” sequel is just as successful as the first one!

Every successful rescue like this adds another colony to our count as we push from 3 to 300 hives.

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Want to see the “original” bamboo pot rescue?

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Quick Question: Why do you think bees love these bamboo-filled pots so much? Is it the insulation or the ready-made “scaffold” for the comb? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

How should we proceed? Would you like an inspection video of this new hive in two weeks, or are you ready for our next structural rescue mission?