>>Is it possible they have a hive there?

It could be but don't think they are honey bees, perhaps bumble bees.
Konrad

No, these are not bumble bees, definately honey bees. After watering the plants there is water and a fine layer of silt around the edge of the planter. I thought they were drinking the water as the first time I saw them it was a hot day.
Then, yesterday after work just before the sun went down they were gathered there again.
What was strange is it was almost dark and it was a cool.

Hm..The best would be if you could post some pics.
Can you see bees are going in and out of that pot?
Konrad

Are you also sure they are not Miner, Resin, or Mason Bees? Miner bees particularly make their nests in the dirt, so if the planter has soil in it that is the right consistency to make a nest, they very well may be Miner bees.

But I am wondering if the bees are simply smelling the scent of the nectar coming from the flowers of your apricot tree that are either dripping down or falling and landing on the planter. That may be a possibility.

If you feel they are honey bees and have nested in your pot (if it is overturned and empty as oppose to being upright and full of soil), then you should contact a bee specialist in your area (not pest controller) so they can extract them for you safely. As you may know, feral honey bees are now considered extremely rare since the onslaught of the Varroa mite infestation that began in the 1980s, and many bee keepers would not mind extracting them and keeping them in a small feral hive for pollination purposes (and possibly internal usage honey gathering).

You can find a bee specialist at an Entomolgy department of a local university or at your state's Agriculture-Entomology department.

Well, hope that helps.

I think there may be a hive nearby. A month ago when my peach and nectarines were in full bloom they were covered with honey bees, more than i've ever seen.
We usually have carpenter bees, wasps, and some honey bees, rarely bumble bees.
This year no carpenter bees yet, & only a few wasps.
I've never seen a mason/orchard bee except in gardening books.

I have been having a similar problem. I have had all different kinds of potted plants sitting around my yard and the honey bees are always swarming around the drain holes in the bottom of the pots. When I water the plants the bees come out of the holes. I recently planted all but 1 of the plants in my yard. The last one was a Geranium and a small seedling tree in the same container. To get the bees away from the drain holes I waited until night time and put the container into anther pot so the bees could not get to the drain holes. I removed the Geranium and planted it. Now the bees are swarming around the wet soil in the pot?

This is common. I keep honey bees and they congregate at the bottom openings of pot plants for cool water.

Please no cides on the plants. It will kill the bees. They prefer "dirty" water for nutrients.

Let how do I kill bees that enter my pot outside thru the drain holes

Have been stung 4 times on2 occasions this week when I turn pot over with palm tree in it to spray drain holes with Hornetand wasp killer

what should I useto get bees gone forever

They are probably not bees but yellowjackets, which will sting at the slightest provocation. This is the time of year when they are nuts. Why are you spraying the drain holes? Can't you just leave it alone for a month or so?

Spraying drain holes because wind blew pots down sideways on ground and every time I try to raise pot up

they attack me and have stung me 4 times on 2 occassions

I have them in my Gold Dust basket and in the large pot of Hostas. Went to move them and was attacked. Any suggestions

Konrad, they are definitely honeybees. I have several hives of honeybees and several large pots with drain holes to set out. Honeybees are in every hole but go back to hive at dark. I found this blog trying to get more info on what they're after in the roots.

It's hard to get close, they start buzzing me. Hope this hekps.

I just saw this today. Honey bees are congregating at the bottom of the plant in the soil. My neighbors have a hive. The first time I am seeing this. The plant sits in a mesh encasing the whole flower pot with the plant open on where the bees hang out. I have 2 other similar plants with the mesh enclosure. One above the bee one and the other on the other side of the porch but they only go to that one plant.