BEES

 Outside, near the front door and under  the bedroom window, is where I put the  pomegranate tree for the summer, outside, but out of direct sunlight. It is a potted plant after all. So it needs watering almost every day when outside .

 After I watered it the other day, I pulled a weed that was growing near it. Out swarmed a number of ground bees. I beat a hasty retreat. When they were somewhat less restless, I moved the pomegranate. I have a too vivid memory of a few years ago when I moved a stone near the front step and riled up a nest of those ground bees who retaliated by instantly attacking me. I fled into the house and slammed the door, but they followed me inside the house and inside my clothes and stung me about a dozen times. I remember after they  alit on the picture window, I was hesitant to use the fly swatter because i feared retribution from the survivors. So I just avoided the new ground nest.

  Last week, when Joe mowed the lawn, he discovered a nest of ground bees in th  yard. He marked it with a white stick. Stay away from this spot!

  I was out near the hydrangea tree a few days ago, and I saw bees swarming on the lawn---sure enough another nest.  Don't go there either. As I walked to the shed, I saw that  familiar sight---bees swarming around a hole in the ground. I'd seen the hole before and attributed it to chipmunks, but bees are in it.

Bees to the front of me, bees to the back of me, bees to the left of me, bees to the right of me. I called an ad I'd seen in the paper that day:   AAA Exterminating, and left a message. They have not called back. Today I inquired for recommendations on the local community page. A lot of responses, many of them offering home remedies. I didn't mean that but I see bees swarming so decided to try what seemed a novel approach:  Put a window screen over the hole, pour boiling water mixed with clorox down the hole. It's better to wait until dark when they are all in the nest. I waited until later in the day, but knew I wouldn't be able to see after dark. I boiled water, added a cup of Clorox, brought the screen out and gently slid it over the hole. A few bees were flying around outside it. I figured they couldn't identify me as the attacker so I poured the boiling mixture down the hole and stepped away. When I returned the screen was covered with bees, maybe trying to get back in the hole, maybe trying to destroy the murderous screen. The bees may be clean and sanitized but they look no worse for wear, only more agitated.

  Back in the house, I called another extermination company with an ad in today's paper. I left a message with the answering service. BUT with  today's easy and instant communication paths, it is difficult to receive a response from any of them.