Our friendly bees help so much in the garden and they don't ask for much. A few flowers all season for food and maybe some place to build a home.
This Spring I decided to try making a bee house. If you search, there are many sites with plans and instructions. Basically, these holes in wood are where many solitary bees will place their eggs for the next generation. I made a few different blocks, but this one turned out be busy.
Lots of foliage near by for the leaf cutters.
It was interesting to check every few days to spot activity. Here, in late June looks like leaf cutters were moving in.
A month later a few more hole were filled, and some were hatched.
At the end of the season, this house is pretty full. I have another double block next to this one, but only one space was filled.
I have really enjoyed the bees in the garden this year. Seems like a large number of bumble bees around. But there were also many smaller ones. I was very happy when some decided to use the house I made. The spot is protected under the eastern overhang of a shed roof -- next a mixed "wildflower" bed.
I hope to see the other homes fill in next year.
