Swarm season! My favorite time of the year.

First of 2025, a beautiful 10-20,000 honeybee swarm cluster on my friend’s cherry tree.

I rigged this slick bucket on a swiveling extending pole a year ago which works so well, and is an upgrade to previous season’s bucket, duct tape on bamboo pole.

But, major equipment #fail yesterday. After swarm of honeybees was in bucket, bucket disengaged from pole. Result? A cascading waterfall of bees.

Plan B. Up close and personal via ladder with bucket in hands. Went up three times to get all of them!

Such a great day. First time I was close enough to my wee apiary that I could walk the box o’ #bees there (verses driving them).

#portland #portlandia #beekeeping #swarm #honeybeeswarm #honeybees #hobby