I am sure that we are all aware of the crisis faced by bee populations around the world. Bees are crucial to the survival of all creatures on the planet, including humans. Bees pollinate 1 out of every 3 bites of food that we eat. They are essential to the health of countless ecosystems.
Orchard mason bees are small bees native to North America and are very good pollinators for flowers and fruit trees. They visit as many a 1,000 blooms per day. Mason bees do not use hives like honeybees. In nature, mason bees place their eggs in holes drilled by beetles or woodpeckers. The bees will also use spaces between roof shingles or other narrow openings around the garden.
After bees mate, the female places eggs in the bamboo tubes. Each egg is separated by nectar and pollen. While the bees are pollen-gathering they also pollinate plants. After the pollen and nectar is placed, the female places a mud plug in the tube (hence the term mason), then repeats the process with more eggs, pollen, nectar and plugs. When the tube is full, she finishes with a heavy mud plug and her work is done. In the spring, the mature bees emerge from the tubes. Males exit first. Females emerge after males because the eggs are placed deeper in the tubes. This is a protective measure, assuring a good female population to help keep the species going.
I created two insect houses in my garden. One is specifically for mason bees, and the other is for mason bees and whatever other critters want to move in. I used materials that I had on hand (I am rather a hoarder of "materials") and some bamboo stakes that I acquired online. Instead of bamboo you can use stalks of phragmites, a reed grass that grows in wetlands and along roadsides. When phragmites dies off in the fall the dried stalks are hollow, resembling bamboo.
If you are interested in attracting more bees to your yard, try planting these bee-friendly plants in your garden:
1. Lavender
2. Blue Borage
3. Marjoram
4. Abelia (Bee Bush)
5. Pussy Willow
6. Crocus
7. Lilac
9. Monarda (Bee Balm)
10. Chives
You can find more information and join the effort to save the bees at https://thebeeconservancy.org/
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