Monday 25 February 2008

Mason Bees, I just love em.


These are just some of my mason bees overwintering in the shed. I will put them out into the garden, in a south facing position, around the middle of March. Come April, they will start to leave the units, tumbling out of the tubes, covered in pollen. The little red velvet bees are a dream for they are passive. They do not sting, I have kept them now for five years, and have never had a problem with children or animals. They only live for 6 - 8 weeks and during that time pollenate all my fruit trees etc. They lay their grubs in the empty tubes. I put them in the shed in September and the cycle starts again

10 comments:

Mary said...

Cheryl, your bees and old trees are interesting but that header is GLORIOUS!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Mason bees started working in the eave of the end of our yard barn a few years ago. I guess I need to do something like you do to keep them from boring into our barn.

What are your tubes made of?? Our mason bees aren't red. Do you have a picture of one?

How do you know when to set them out? Would they not survive outside? This is most intersting to me.

kate smudges said...

This is such a great idea! I love the idea that you can keep them from year to year. For how many years have you had the bees?

I hope you post more pictures of them throughout the summer!!

kate said...

I just lost my blogger comment here - at least I think so!

This is a great idea - I love the idea that they over-winter in the shed and then come out and do their work.

I hope you take pictures of them throughout the summer ...

Anonymous said...

Oh wow...a bee that wont sting you Ceryl..I got an absolute fear of bees....but love the name for them...:)x

beckie said...

Cheryl, I really like your new header! What a glorious picture. I can't wait to follow your bees around the garden. You will have to show us what they look like. I'm sorry to say I don't now much about beeing, but am anxious to learn. Sorry, I don't now they name of the flower. It is delightful though. As always, great pictures!

Q said...

I love your bees!
Mason bees are a gardeners best friend! How nice that you have them all ready for Spring!
Sherry

Lisa's Blessed A Latte said...

Beautiful pictures!!!

Cheryl said...

Dear All
Thank you for you lovely comments. It would seem a lot of you are interested in the mason bees so will do a piece on them to show you how easy it is. Will upload something in March.

Miranda Bell said...

Love your pictures and it's something I intend getting for here very soon - have you got any tips? You've obviously been very busy taking pictures since my last visit... work seems to have taken over and leaves little time for blogging but will do my best as I miss it! Miranda