I've just come in from gardening and have seen quite a few bees today on the hellebores, and one that had ventured into the greenhouse. Last Thursday I saw a bumble bee on the garage door, must have been attracted by the warmth from it.
It's lovely to hear them buzzing about, lets hope we get some more flowers out soon for them to forage on. They need all the help they can get.
Inspired by all this talk of bees and bee nests I set to yesterday and made a bumblebee B&B. I used a pot that has had a huge chunk bitten out by the frost..dug a big hole...pushed the pot in and buried the back...put the broken off lip over as a shelter and another piece of broken pot as a shelter...it's in a spot where buff-tails have nested before (there was an old compost bin there...since moved)
I now read that bumble bee nests are rarely occupied (less than 3% according to a survey done by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust).
Had fun making it tho
The area is surrounded by ferns, astrantias, epimediums etc so it's a bit bare atm...it will look better when the plants come into growth. Maybe fairies will move in...more likely to be ants...
Think I'll give this a try Cheery, even if only 3% chance of occupation - better than no chance! Last autumn I came across a bumble bee that has buried its in one of my small cutting pots. I quickly tucked him/her back in, so could still be there. I have on a few occasions at this time of year unearthed the odd one when turning the soil for the first time. My first sighting of a bee this year was today on a sports field near my house, although I did wonder if it was warm enough for it - that cold wind was back today.
I have just seen your reply on bees thank you for all the phone numbers for people who collect the bees who live locally I will phone them when I see the bees about someone said they are not honey bees so im unsure what they are
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Hi everyone.
I've just come in from gardening and have seen quite a few bees today on the hellebores, and one that had ventured into the greenhouse. Last Thursday I saw a bumble bee on the garage door, must have been attracted by the warmth from it.
It's lovely to hear them buzzing about, lets hope we get some more flowers out soon for them to forage on.
They need all the help they can get.
ChrisX
Spotted honey bee and bumble today, whilst chopping back my Epimedium, near to Pulmonaria.
Inspired by all this talk of bees and bee nests I set to yesterday and made a bumblebee B&B. I used a pot that has had a huge chunk bitten out by the frost..dug a big hole...pushed the pot in and buried the back...put the broken off lip over as a shelter and another piece of broken pot as a shelter...it's in a spot where buff-tails have nested before (there was an old compost bin there...since moved)
I now read that bumble bee nests are rarely occupied (less than 3% according to a survey done by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust).
Had fun making it tho
The area is surrounded by ferns, astrantias, epimediums etc so it's a bit bare atm...it will look better when the plants come into growth. Maybe fairies will move in...more likely to be ants...
I should add that obviously I mean 'home made/bought bumble bee nests are rarely occupied'
I've put some shredded paper inside and thatch from my stipa tenuissima...as opposed to straw as I read that bumble bees dislike straw.
Think I'll give this a try Cheery, even if only 3% chance of occupation - better than no chance! Last autumn I came across a bumble bee that has buried its in one of my small cutting pots. I quickly tucked him/her back in, so could still be there. I have on a few occasions at this time of year unearthed the odd one when turning the soil for the first time. My first sighting of a bee this year was today on a sports field near my house, although I did wonder if it was warm enough for it - that cold wind was back today.
Despite the cold East wind today, I saw my first red tailed bumble bee of this yr today.
I've got Hellebores, crocus, chaenomeles, some narcissus all in flower, so not too bad. J.
Bob
I have just seen your reply on bees thank you for all the phone numbers for people who collect the bees who live locally I will phone them when I see the bees about someone said they are not honey bees so im unsure what they are
At north cornwall on sunday 7th it was warm and sunny.
One bee came into my greenhouse .I didnt see any others.
Although it is cold here it is bright with sunshine. In the garden i have hellebores,crocus,tulips ,narcissus , camellias primulas and pansies
In my veg patch i have plenty of purple sprouting but just one cabbage.
Today the bees and the butterflies came to join me. It's spring
In the sticks near Peterborough