|
Post by chrism on Jul 6, 2018 16:37:44 GMT
I’ve catered for mason bees for years but results have not been as good as in the early years, when I had a virtual ‘swarm’. For the first time, I have a bee house with larger tubes as well and no surprise, have leaf cutters. Thankfully, they’re cutting a rose that has always been in the garden even before we arrived, and that was 30 years ago this year. They skirt around me when I’m close and do their thing. Here’s a photo from today of one in action.
|
|
|
Post by grindle on Jul 7, 2018 6:50:01 GMT
great photo chrism , I've had no luck with mine, so I think I'll have to relocate it and see if it's better
|
|
|
Post by chrism on Jul 7, 2018 7:02:41 GMT
great photo chrism , I've had no luck with mine, so I think I'll have to relocate it and see if it's better Thanks, grindle. South facing is ideal, no lower than three feet, apparently. I placed two old mason bee boxes at ground level a month ago, and they still used them.
|
|
|
Post by SueA on Jul 7, 2018 7:22:10 GMT
They are fascinating aren't they chrism, my leafcutters have started on my Handel rose by the arbour seat now, I have 4 bee houses & a giant bug 'hotel' in the garden & the most popular ones are on the north facing back fence & a tiny one on an east facing fence so I suppose they're not fussy as long as there are plants nearby.
|
|
|
Post by chrism on Jul 7, 2018 10:35:26 GMT
Interesting, SueA . That opens up options for me with the two ground level ones, as I could try them in the east wall of the garage. I love helping bees out. It’s our bit in counterbalancing the crash in bumblebee populations caused by pesticides. At least that issue has now been identified and addressed. Plus, harbouring garden bees is simply rewarding in its own right.
|
|
|
Post by SueA on Jul 8, 2018 8:11:47 GMT
Mine are all in the back garden chrism which is south facing, the 2 boxes on the fence facing west don't seem to get used, the one on the back fence facing north is quite popular but the newest one on the fence facing east near the patio is the smallest one but very sunny & very popular. The one facing north:- This is the one on the east facing fence yesterday:-
|
|
|
Post by chrism on Jul 8, 2018 13:42:33 GMT
|
|