'Drowning' bumble bees - feel so guilty

[Northernlurker]

Just had a total trauma. I have two hanging baskets in the garden. One hanging from a tree, another from a hook. Both had started to look a bit end of season after three months so I let them dry out over the last week or so and bought autumnal plAnts to redo them today. I took them down, pulled up the plants from the small basket leaving about half the compost in and put it under the garden tap to soak whilst I did the big one.

Went back to the small one, switched off tap and moved it to the grasp then heard panic stricken buzzing. Looked down and on the soaked compost were three soaked bumbles trying to get out. And I could hear more buzzing!

I should say at this point I am terrified of wasps and whilst I like bumble bees I'm not too chuffed to handle them. Luckily dh was at home and he helped me rescue them from the basket with a stick. That they clung to like a drowning man poor things. Then we went though the compost and found four more. Most have now dried out and flown, just the last three still fluffing up. We got them some sugar water in case they needed strength.

Needless to say the hanging basket didn't get done.

So my aibu is aibu to not know bees would do this? Is it a freak thing or is it like hedgehogs and bonfires and I really should have checked before drowning the poor sods.

Aww you didn't do it on purpose. Don't feel bad. Also you have tried your best to save them. Hopefully they be ok

You are not bad. There is a lesson to be learned though.

Bend your life around nature. Do not try to bend nature around you;

Both had started to look a bit end of season after three months so I let them dry out over the last week or so and bought autumnal plants to redo them today.

Let them dry out and die. That is what nature does. And I bet there were loads of moths in there too, which may have flown quickly away when you started. They love harbouring among the leaves as they dry out.

It sounds like they are nesting in the basket.

Goingg forwards I'd just chuck a pint of water into the basket morning & evening rather than soaking the basket.

Many many species of bumblebees nest underground or at the roots of long tussocky grass. When you eventually empty the basket you may find a yellow waxy gof ball shaped nest just under the surface of the soil. Consider yourself honoured by their presence!

Oh lord now I've got moth guilt too!

I ironed a bumble bee 🐝....it was fine after a few seconds 😳