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Advice on keeping bees in the garden?

The house we bought last year had a few left over mason bee blocks (empty of course), and we're thinking of getting that going again. Anyone have any advice on where to get bees, supplies, good books to read, or any other stuff to watch out for or experience to share? Would love to have some pollinators around for the garden.

Anthony Hecht asked in Chickens & Animals about 1 year ago | Report

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  • Card_small
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    I put up a Mason bee block near our plum tree a few years ago and a few bees colonized it without me really trying. I've since expanded to a second block (not that the first got filled up, but I figured, why not).

    Obviously if you want to attract bees it helps to have flowers; plum/cherry/apple trees are good because they bloom in the spring and Mason bees are pretty much done by the time the hot weather rolls around. In fact, the advice I heard says to take your bee block inside once hot weather shows up, as the developing larvae can otherwise be attacked by parasites. Store them in a cool place indoors and hang the blocks back up when the dandelions start blooming again (usually in February or March).

    Also, other insects might use your mason bee blocks, but since these are also solitary insects (a couple of types of wasps), you don't need to worry about them waking up in the winter and stinging you. I know I've had a few wasp larvae over the year, and have had no problems.

    Greg Barnes answered in Chickens & Animals about 1 year ago | Report
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    Rather than summarizing here, check out the links to Washington State University and Extension publications for excellent information regarding Orchard Mason Bees:

    1. Orchard Mason Bees. A great summary of Orchard Mason Bees. http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/inse006/inse006.htm

    2. Orchard Bees Fact Sheet: Includes how to use Orchard Mason bees as pollinators and ‘housing’ bees. http://king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/documents/MasonBee.pdf

    3. Beekeeping Resources: This fact sheet includes a list of Associations, publications, plants that attract bees, and supplies.http://king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/documents/bee.pdf

     I hope this is useful. Happy Gardening!

    Master Gardener Andrea answered in Chickens & Animals about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Cappa_small
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    You could attend the Puget Sound Beekeepers' Association Apiary Field Day this coming Saturday, May 14th, at the Arboretum:

    http://pugetsoundbees.org/resources/beginning-beekeeping/

    They're really focused on honeybees but I'm sure you could learn methods and meet people who could get you up to speed on solitary bees like the mason bee.

    capicola answered in Chickens & Animals about 1 year ago | Report
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