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Welcome the Mason Bees

April 11, 2011

It looks like spring has arrived. Although temperatures have been higher than average, we have experienced bouts of cold, wet rain. Not so good for the mason bees who need to forage for the pollen and nectar to sustain themselves.

Today is a clear, warm day and the bee condo with cardboard inserts has been nailed high up under the roof of our garden shed (to avoid vandalism). The whole process goes smoothly, and the cocoons are safely inside.

We are visited by a neighboring mason bee -- a sign that all is well. Dusted with pollen, he waits for the others to join him in a celebration of spring.

Tags: bees, mason, spring

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Comment by Cylia on April 25, 2011 at 10:36pm: We know that some of the cocoons have hatched because we saw evidence of bee poop on both bee condos. Funny eh! Our fruit trees are in bloom too, even with this cool weather.

Comment by Cylia on April 13, 2011 at 7:20am: Yes, I read somewhere that even for vegetables that self-pollinate (and thank goodness there are some), that crop production is increased with bees. All types of bees are crucial for our survival.

It was such a wonderful sight, just after we had nailed up the bee condo, this mason bee shows up, with his face covered in pollen.

Comment by Randy Chatterjee on April 12, 2011 at 10:56pm: Spring has sprung, and green shoots are emerging from the ground everywhere (and I don't mean grass). Food plantings in this city are rising faster than our skyscrapers, and thank goodness, because we have a lot of mouths to feed.

All of these vegetables--on decks, patios, roofs, empty lots, boulevards, and back yards--will need pollination, and these tireless bees are a critical part of our food security, as well as a great overall contributor to our entire ecosystem at every level.

Great photo!