the nest is outside an upstairs window, the only place he always tries to get too close is a huge clump of geraniums, I did put an obstacle there today and spent time encouraging him to say hello and stand back, he's fairly quick on the uptake, ( but also rather single minded!)
For the third year in succession I have a nest of tree bumblebees under the tiles of my Bungalow roof. They are often described as aggressive if their nest is attacked, but I have had no bother with them at all. Three years ago I planted my whole front plot (4m x 4m) with a green manure called Phacelia tanacetifolia and allowed it to flower. It attracted 7 species of bee and in numbers of up to 100 per square metre.
The only drawback was that it seeded everywhere and is still coming up this year, so I am now much more restrictive in where I let it grow. Brilliant plant for bees.
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the nest is outside an upstairs window, the only place he always tries to get too close is a huge clump of geraniums, I did put an obstacle there today and spent time encouraging him to say hello and stand back, he's fairly quick on the uptake, ( but also rather single minded!)
For the third year in succession I have a nest of tree bumblebees under the tiles of my Bungalow roof. They are often described as aggressive if their nest is attacked, but I have had no bother with them at all. Three years ago I planted my whole front plot (4m x 4m) with a green manure called Phacelia tanacetifolia and allowed it to flower. It attracted 7 species of bee and in numbers of up to 100 per square metre.
The only drawback was that it seeded everywhere and is still coming up this year, so I am now much more restrictive in where I let it grow. Brilliant plant for bees.