saw one bumble,by the way if you have a water butt and the pipe leading into the container is not a close fix or if there is an open space put a little mesh cover across(an old pair of tights chopped)to stop the bees going in and drowning as I found some years ago.I had a few victims of drowned beesand since they are precious this is what i do now.
I am a bit of an obsessive bee spotter, especially bumble bees but also honey bees, solitary bees and some wasps...
I reckon that I heard one in the garden yesterday but I didn't see owt. Last year numbers were dreadful early on but they picked up later on in the summer...it's still too cold really yet but on warmer days (like yesterday here) I expect to see the occasional queen bumble bee out foraging in the spring flowers...
No not yet, and usually at this time of year my pulmonaria's are smothered with the smallest cutest bees ever (well they are to me!), but so far the flowers are going to waste
On that note I have a question which I don't know if anyone can help with - I have a 'bee hotel' fixed on a fence which the leaf cutter bees use every year, however I need to move it as it is no longer sheltered - Does anyone have any idea when it would be a good time to do this? I never see the bees emerge, only notice when the leaf cutter bee is stuffing the holes with leaves!
We have several colonies in our garden (OH is beekeeper!) They do seem reluctant to emerge on the cold days we have had but on sunny days, they frequently fly. Favourite plants are hazel and pussy willow. Snowdrops were good too. Only seen a couple of bumbles so far.
To the person who talked about bees in her hedge. They are not likely to be honey bees, honey bees don't live that. Beekeepers can only collect a conventional swarm that is hanging on a tree or building.
I am very sad, here in East Anglia I normally see some bumble bees from January onwards and this year I still haven't seen any bees at all. As well as an orchard that will soon need pollinators, I have two acres of a wild flower meadow that should provide ample food resources for many types of bees.
My bees have been foraging and bringing in pollen, mahonia has been a favourite, very little else out in west lancs I'm afraid. If it doesn't warm up soon colonies will starve, so much for global warming!
I had at least 5 honeybees on my pots of white crocus on tuesday when it was quite warm in the sun. I haven't seen any on the last two days when it has been cold and windy.
I saw a very large bee about a few days ago, not moving, in the shade. Having just read the bee article in this months Gardeners World magazine, I followed their advice and carefully moved it into the sun, (yes we did have some for a while). A while later the bee started to move and then flew away, which made me very happy!!
Posts
saw one bumble,by the way if you have a water butt and the pipe leading into the container is not a close fix or if there is an open space put a little mesh cover across(an old pair of tights chopped)to stop the bees going in and drowning as I found some years ago.I had a few victims of drowned beesand since they are precious this is what i do now.
I am a bit of an obsessive bee spotter, especially bumble bees but also honey bees, solitary bees and some wasps...
I reckon that I heard one in the garden yesterday but I didn't see owt. Last year numbers were dreadful early on but they picked up later on in the summer...it's still too cold really yet but on warmer days (like yesterday here) I expect to see the occasional queen bumble bee out foraging in the spring flowers...
No not yet, and usually at this time of year my pulmonaria's are smothered with the smallest cutest bees ever (well they are to me!), but so far the flowers are going to waste
On that note I have a question which I don't know if anyone can help with - I have a 'bee hotel' fixed on a fence which the leaf cutter bees use every year, however I need to move it as it is no longer sheltered - Does anyone have any idea when it would be a good time to do this? I never see the bees emerge, only notice when the leaf cutter bee is stuffing the holes with leaves!
We have several colonies in our garden (OH is beekeeper!) They do seem reluctant to emerge on the cold days we have had but on sunny days, they frequently fly. Favourite plants are hazel and pussy willow. Snowdrops were good too. Only seen a couple of bumbles so far.
To the person who talked about bees in her hedge. They are not likely to be honey bees, honey bees don't live that. Beekeepers can only collect a conventional swarm that is hanging on a tree or building.
I am very sad, here in East Anglia I normally see some bumble bees from January onwards and this year I still haven't seen any bees at all. As well as an orchard that will soon need pollinators, I have two acres of a wild flower meadow that should provide ample food resources for many types of bees.
Saw my first one yesterday - a buff-tailed.
suepick
I am the person my name is joyce I thought they were honey bees in my hedge so what are they then they are very small
joyce m
I had at least 5 honeybees on my pots of white crocus on tuesday when it was quite warm in the sun. I haven't seen any on the last two days when it has been cold and windy.
I saw a very large bee about a few days ago, not moving, in the shade. Having just read the bee article in this months Gardeners World magazine, I followed their advice and carefully moved it into the sun, (yes we did have some for a while). A while later the bee started to move and then flew away, which made me very happy!!