by Rick Miralia
Trying to attract bees as pollinators? Like in the old westerns, the good guys wore white hats and the bad guys wore black – well, the good bees will be happily buzzing around the flowers and the bad guys will be angrily scouting the garbage. With all that activity, these busy little bees will be using up their reserves and might welcome a refreshing drink of water. A shallow bowl of fresh clean water placed in a bed they frequent, would be a way of keeping that magic alive. Be sure to have a few stones in the water for the bees to stand on while they drink. That magic, by the way, is the pollinating process they provide by just visiting. Think of a big field of lush green plants, over which a magic wand is passed, then suddenly bursts in colorful blooms! The magic of the bees.
Once these bees become comfortable in their surroundings, they will likely start nesting. Certain materials should be available for those bees to use or building their nests. Mason bees need access to clay which they use to build their nesting compartments, hence their name “mason bees”. They will find small holes, add their mud, and lay eggs. Another fun approach would be to provide them with a home suited just for them. A mason bee home would be an instant nesting habitat, providing shelter for the bees and entertainment for you. So, to bee or not to bee…
