My dear friend Ellen Norton told me she’d installed some houses for native Mason Bees in her Arizona yard,, and even sent me the instructions for how to build one. She got information about the bees from the folks at The Pollen Path LLC (please note the copyright info beneath. If you choose to share it, please give credit where credit is due).
Incidentally, did you know that the Pollen Path is a Navajo term and relates to the life-giving properties of pollen?
I like to encourage any process that will help bees, whether honey bees or the native pollinators that like to live in these little works of art.
Here's Ellen's bee box:
And here's the information from The Pollen Path:
"Pollen Bee Habitat"
For Solitary Native Bees: Mason Bee, Hornface Bee, Leaf Cutter Bee, Green Metallic Bee, and Yellow Faced Bee,
Delicate, blue, black reddish and golden bees with iridescent and luminous wings can pollinate up to 1,600 blossoms per day in your gardens.
These friendly, solitary non-aggressive creatures will lay 4-8 eggs per hole. They will then line the hole with bee bread made of pollen and nectar for their young. The hole will then be packed with mud or plant cuttings. Your bees will emerge in early spring.
Place your house as a nest or as garden ornamentation among your flowers in early spring, 2 to 3 feet off the ground facing the south or east sun.
These little bees will keep you and your gardens happy and tranquil all summer long.
Note: When you notice an opening in the seal of mud or plant cuttings, clean out the hole making way for future occupants.
The Pollen Path, LLC
PO Box 102
Elm Grove, WI 53122
414-588-8984
copyright 06/1997
BEEattitude for Day #569:
Blessed are those who sing as they work, for they shall be endlessly entertained.
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The teeny details:
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