>What can these people do to protect their families from the bees? Is
>there something that can be done to make these yards safe from these
>bees?


Peggy, I have been a beekeeper for four years.  Our bee hives are within
inches of the side of our house.  Domestic honeybees are not aggressive and
among my VERY active sons, only one has been stung (only once) and that was
because he was running barefoot through the grass and stepped on a bee.  We
have lots of clover in the lawn, if you do also - wear shoes.

Also, you may want to get to know the difference in insects.  We have had
calls about bees bothering people across town.  They were yellow jackets on
several occasions and wasps another time.  Our neighbors like the bees.
Their flowers have more and larger blooms and their apple and pear trees are
producing better than they ever have.  The pool will probably attract the
bees.  I don't know of a solution there.  You may want to ask the beekeeper
to keep an available source of water for the bees, but the bees may still go
for the pool.

If a bee comes near (or on) you, don't swat at it.  If it feels threatened,
it may sting.  My boys love to sit near our hive and watch the bees.  They
land on them and fly off again.  No problem.  My husband even cuts the grass
around the hive with the weed-eater while wearing shorts and sandals!

I understand your fear of the bees for I was afraid of them also until I
decided to get a hive to help my garden.  Now I am totally fascinated by
them.  They really are amazing!  I hope you come to appreciate them.

You may also want to read last month's Mother Earth News.  It has a superb
article about honey uses that I didn't even know.