Pollinators... got 'em?

[squid_ink]

I was in Maine when I saw some really cute Mason Bee houses

Comments

[cinnamonbite]

No, wait...I think someone on my friend's list (who lives just down the road from me) had Mason Bees in the spring...let me check with him on that.

[cinnamonbite]

Nevermind. He had carpenter bees.

[squid_ink]

Nevermind. He had carpenter bees.

LOL don't we all.. :(

I try not to bother them but boy are they pesky

[mpkalypso]

That bee house is neat! I've been trying to plant butterfly and bee attracting flowers. Hopefully next spring I'll start seeing more!

[cous_cous]

That's a beautiful bee house.

Basically, all I've done to attract bees and butterflies is plant flowers that they like. And of course, not use any kind of insecticide.

It took a while for them to find me, but now that they have, I can honestly say, pollination is not a problem for me. Plus, they're fun to watch!

[crossfire]

I love watching the bees in my Russian Sage. Somehow watching all of that industry is very restful and zen.

[cous_cous]

For me it's the buzzing. Puts me right out.

I like to put my hammock right next to the citrus trees in bloom and doze off.

[squid_ink]

I don't have a problem with pollinators either, my garden's always buzzing up until frost (even now)

I just figured the more I can do the better, and if this helps them out... it's worth it! Especially something so easy and inexpensive.

[drunk_bohemian]

Have you heard of the Great Sunflower Project (a href="www.greatsunflower.org")? They send you sunflower seeds and then you record the number of bees that are visiting your flowers. All in the name of science!

[eqfe]

I'm sure I would have lost count this year. Bees do seem to love sunflowers.

[signetk]

I haven't tried raising blue orchard bees, but I listened to a speaker recently who is a "pollinator ecologist" and she totally inspired me to try it (someday). She has an extensive website with a ton of information on it: www.pollinatorparadise.com if you are interested. I think you can order supplies from her or she can tell you how to get them.

[squid_ink]

nice link, thx! I actually keep honeybees (not on my land but at an 'outyard') and while it's fun it is alot of work.

There's something to be said for native pollinators.

That lecture sounds so interesting...!!

[tanya2u]

What do you have to do to maintain it?