THE lush, tropical garden setting at Royal Plantation is known for butterflies, birds, lizards and beautiful peacocks that wander the property. There are, too, a variety of insects.

It was therefore a delightful surprise when random bees flying in the vicinity of a guest suite turned out to be a hive of honeybees earnestly going about their day’s duty of honey-making.

“The first response to the bee alarm – no doubt brought on by the fear of passersby being stung – was to fumigate the area, thereby eradicating all the bees. Thankfully, our general manager, Peter Fraser, was quick to halt this assault and he called in a local bee-keeper, Lesworth Johnson,” said in a release from the resort.

On Johnson’s instructions, a section of the ceiling where the bees were seen was removed to reveal a flourishing bee hive. Johnson hung a bucket filled with lemon grass (commonly known as fever grass) in the ceiling and immediately many of the worker bees flew inside. He then searched the hive for the queen bee, and having located her, placed her in a separate container which was also put in the bucket with the lemon grass.

“Worker bees that were still flying around instantly flew to join the queen bee in the bucket. The bucket was left hanging overnight in the ceiling to await the return of those worker bees that had gone far away to gather nectar,” said the release. “After checking the suspended bucket and being satisfied that all the bees were carefully secured, Mr Johnson took them to his bee farm where they will safely continue to make their wonderful, natural sweetener that is honey.”

The hotel’s grounds team has since been sensitised about the proper handling and removal of bee hives.

“And (they) are happy to know that the love they have put into tending their gardens has so attracted the honeybees to set up their bee hive nearby,” the release added.

Meanwhile, Royal Plantation has noted its commitment to preserving the environment and supports bee keepers by using locally produced honey in its restaurants.

The Royal Plantation Collection encompasses the award-winning, all-suite boutique resort Royal Plantation Ocho Rios, Jamaica; the unspoiled private island, Royal Plantation Island, Exumas, The Bahamas; and Royal Plantation Private Villas in Discovery Bay, Ocho Rios and Whitehouse, Jamaica. Development is underway for additional resorts in Bloody Bay and Dragon Bay, Jamaica and Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, slated for completion by 2012.