Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#1
Has anyone else got a Mason Bee house?
I bought one recently and have been fascinated sitting down the garden and watching them make full use of what I have provided for them.
They lay their grub in the back of the tube and fill it up with chewed up leaves and cover the entrance with the same.
The good thing about these Bees is, they do not sting.
The bottom half is an ideal home for Lace Wings and Ladybirds.
Even Paul B could use one at his dizzy heights. Give it a try.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
never heard of a mason bee house until now ian.
sounds fascinating though, i love watching them pollinate flowers.
how high from the ground does the house stand?
thinking of all the cats around here.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#3
Any height you like Howard and placed anywhere.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
#4
they just destroy houses and crap on your washing......
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#5
We put bundles of short bamboo lengths around the garden as homes for lacewings and ladybirds, we also have numerous bumble bee nests in the bank at the bottom of the garden, carpenter bees in the wood pile and mason bees in the garden wall. We also have frogs and toads in the pond, damsel flies, nesting robins in the ivy & blackbirds nesting in the trees. Also somewhere along the the back bank in the trees there are bats nests as well - you can often spot them at dusk.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#6
Yes, I've got a very similar one to you Ian. Four or five of the tubes become homes to solitary bees last year and I'm hoping that more bees will take up residency this year. Watching the bees popping in and out is quite fascinating.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
#7
Oooh I'm going to have to get one, I love watching the bees in all the lavender we have.
Ross your garden sounds fab and you have bats too, I LOVE bats.
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
#8
Charming idea! I'm inspired. Our project tomorrow is to make a bee home. We've an ideal bit of wall to put it on, too.
Your garden sounds super, Ross. We have bats flying in the evening too, and I once found one quietly sleeping behind the garden clock. Like Jeane, I seriously like bats! I'm not quite so sure about the grass snake I spotted the other day, however, though I'm told it's rather fortunate to have one.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#9
Great idea Ian and great garden Ross.
I notice Ian's photos have gone too - must be a system problem, they've gone off of other threads as well.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#10
There we are..all together we have restored Ian's pictures, so its a thumbsup all round. So far anyway. Might have been a temporary glitch. Picture also restored on the Flay the FLag for the Armed Forces thread.
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
#11
Here's our new bee-house being made - the holes here are 8mm and 10mm and there'll be different sizes down the centre. I don't know if it'll work, but I hope so!
I read that these houses have to be in a sunny spot. We've got quite a few of those - especially today! Before we put it up, can anyone advise? Is there any danger to the bees from possible overheating if it goes in a place where it catches the midday sun as well as the morning sun?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#12
good point maggie, best to apply some high factor lotion to our bee friends, just in case.
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
#13
Heh! I thought maybe their little aprons might help protect them ...
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#14
I hope it works Maggie.
My Bee house is 6ft off the ground and facing due south. I have a different one facing east and has not been used yet if that is any help.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#15
We have fairly large gardens here which I noticed were attracting a great deal of bee's. I sat and watched them whilst taking in the rays and sipping on a cold glass of Chardonnay. They appeared to be disappearing into an old sand colouredlimestone outhouse that stores spare clay roof tiles and garden tools. What an amazing sight to see bee after bee scurry backwards and forwards laden down with pollen.It appears they have built a hive in between the tiles. I don't own a camera (cos I'm useless ) but will borrow the wifes and attempt to take some shots.I am hoping to get a close up shot of their hive but will have to time it carefully.
Not sure what type of bee..pretty big buggers if thats any help for the technical minded amongst you.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
#16
Thanks, Ian. We have an east-facing wall, and a south one, though that one doesn't get the sun first thing, nor after midday. We'll try the south one and see how we get on, I think ... Simon's all enthused now too, and might make a second house. If he does, we'll try that east wall, which gets the very early sun and is slightly more sheltered.
Bee
interested to see your photos, if you can do them, Marek.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
