Today’s Run:  “Rest Day”

I mowed today.  The Crepe Myrtles are in full bloom.  The big, fat, fuzzy bumble bees are visiting the Crepe Myrtles.  I mowed today around the Crepe Myrtles~Danger, Will Robinson!!!

As I mentioned in a previous post, mowing our property takes three hours.  Two hours on a riding mower and one hour with the push mower.  Almost a full 1 1/2 hours I am in very close proximity to stinging bees.  Being a bee keeper has its perks.  I “suit up” when around the bees (all varieties) and do not get stung.  This is a lesson I have learned the hard way.

Earlier this Spring, before the Crepe Myrtles were in bloom, I got too close to my five honey bee hives.  I was stung three times by my right eye.  I was a sight!  All swollen.  It was pretty funny, really~once I got past the “ouch” factor.

I decided then and there that when I got to a certain point in the mowing, I would stop and “suit up”.  I have been doing that ever since and have not been stung by the honey bees.

But, dummy me, did not think about the big, fat, fuzzy, yellow and black striped bumble bees that really, really like the Crepe Myrtles.  When they began to bloom, I went zipping around them on the riding mower~Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!  Then, out they came!  I was interrupting their interlude.  I made a hasty retreat!

The next time I mowed, I used the push mower to get closer to the Crepe Myrtles.  They were heavy with blossoms now and I couldn’t get close to them with the riding mower.  The bumble bees definitely did not like that because I was reaching underneath and bumping their flowers. Out they came again!  I made yet, another hasty retreat!

Today (I can be taught!)  I suited up earlier and used the push mower under the Crepe Myrtles AND down by the honey bees!  Ah-Ha!  It worked.  The bees came after me but I had on, 2 pairs of jeans, three shirts, one bee jacket, veil and hat, and my leather gloves!  I was invincible!!!

So, yes, when mowing around stinging insects, remember that old Television series, Lost In Space, and Robot saying, “Danger, Will Robinson” and suit up.