Honeybees swarm the hummingbird feeder near my forge, looking for sweet moisture that will bridge the uncertain blooms due to uneven climate temperatures. Sometimes, the hummingbirds and bees get a bit aggressive, vying for nectar, so I put an extra feeder in just for the hummingbirds. The bees have become such a daily part of my life, that I decided to sculpt some and cluster them in our front garden.
I made 6 bees for my wife, Cristina Acosta’s, front garden design. Cristina is a landscape designer and a fine art painter. During the past two years, we’ve been making the change from a plain grass front yard to a walled garden sanctuary. She was looking for a “room divider” to create a dining area in the garden. Together, we came up with this overhead raised garden bed that doubles as a shade sail pole and sculpture pedestal.
With my anvil and hammer, I formed each honeybee sculpture by hand with reclaimed and new steel. They are supposed to be identical bees, but because each is unique, measurements vary slightly. Cristina and I spent the morning arranging the honeybees across the raised garden bed structure, then I welded them in place.
You can order one honeybee at a time or more. They are free standing. If you want me to install them (and create a similar raised bed garden), we can make arrangements. Or you can have a local welder do the job. Just be sure you play with exactly where you want each honeybee.
If you want your honeybee sculpture powder-coated (I spray them with clear polyurethane) call me and we can talk. It will be a small increase in price. Check out Sculpture for more work.
Honeybee size: 6.5” tall, 9” long, 12” across the wingspan. I make these by eye, without a jig. When you order a honeybee or more, measurements will be very similar but not exact.