Metal railings surround a large piece of stretched elephant skin, pinned down in the middle with rocks – it’s one of the features of West Isley along with the cricket pitch and pub.
My puzzling the feature ends as the phone rings: ”Are the bees swarming?” – you can feel the worry.
Whilst not a swarm, the erratic moments at the hive have been a feature this year. Somewhere flowers produce a spurt of nectar and a frenetic excitement ensues; a loud whining hum and a cloud of bees cause consternation with the nearby gardener as the hive transforms into a Formula One car. Yet the drama is short lived: the ground is dry and nectar production cannot be sustained. Seeds are soon set, flowers soon die, and brown twigs memorialise summer’s bloom.