Humming Along

Saturday after the last rider finished her lesson in the clinic, Gayle and I sat on the viewing stand by the arena talking about how things went.  A low humming noise started up and got louder and louder and LOUDER.  It was getting difficult to talk over the hum and it sounded menacing.  Gayle said "bees" and sure enough, a dust devil sized cloud of them was moving across the center of the arena.  The cloud paused by Camille's pine tree near the chicken pen and the arena gate. 

Later that afternoon, Brett noticed that they had set up residence in the tree.  It looked like a huge pine cone -- about a foot long, hanging from one of the top branches -- comprised of bees. 

Sunday morning, the bees were still there.  I like bees but in small groups; preferably groups of one.  The bees were quiet and we crossed our fingers that they were just resting on their way to a new hive. 
I crept as close as I dared, which wasn't very close, and took some pictures.

They were gone by Sunday evening.  The humming throng of bees is gone, leaving behind just a couple to buzz around my garden and pollinate things.  It was a fascinating occurrence but I'm glad they didn't stick around.