Let's Save Some Bees!

A couple of weeks ago, hubby brought home an adorable little wooden house that he found at Costco. It looked like a decorative piece and I instantly wondered where I would put it out in the Garden after the snow melted. He says ‘this is for bees’. Huh? What? I looked closer and sure enough, the label said Mason Bee Barn made by Bambeco .

Hmm, I thought, what in the world is a ‘bee barn’??! I loved how cute it was but had no idea what I was supposed to do with it. So, I took the time to read the information provided on the label and then did some research on the importance of bees. About 30% of the human food supply and 90% of wild plants depend on pollination from bees. The native bee lifespan is a single season.

Like many of you, I have heard the News stories about the threat to the livelihood of bees and the negative impact it would cause for us humans. I even bought some bee friendly plants to put in the gardens to help them do their thing.

The one I have that attracts the most bees is referred to as Bee Balm, it’s botanical name is Monarda. This is a perennial plant which is nice for those of us who don’t want to replant all their flowers every year and it also spreads it’s seeds to other sections of your garden. For more information on this plant, you can follow this link. There are several varieties of plants that are good for attracting bees and Beekeeping has a lot of information about them.

So, back to my new Bee Barn! According to the label, this is a Nursery for super-pollinating, non-stinging, native bees. That’s interesting, a Nursery?! Since when do bees need a Nursery? Now I’m intrigued!

Why a bee barn? To provide a habitat and home base for native bees. Native bees outpollinate honey bees 80 – 1. Wow! I had NO idea! Great job native bees!!!

Well, well! I now have a nursery for bees!!! Let’s read on…..

**Lots of room for baby bees and butterflies also!**

Reading on …. Mason bees are solitary, native bees which are the most prolific pollinators on our planet. Unlike honey bees, there is no colony with workers, there are no swarms, and they do not produce honey. Their sole focus is pollination, and they make friendly, non-aggressive neighbors.

Once a female bee establishes her home in a nesting tube:
- She will lay her eggs
- Fill the tubes with nourishment
- Seal off the entrance with mud so her young can safely grow for next spring’s hatch

Recommended long term maintenance of the health of the bees: In year 2, to fight potential disease to the offspring, rotate two sets of Mason Bee Barns. One for new spring bees to use and another to clean and store for next season.

Now that I had all the info I needed on why bee barns are a good idea for the bees and how to use it, Hubby went out and bought a 2nd one (you know, just in case Costco sold out before year 2).

**My pair of Bee Barns stored until the snow melts**

The mason bee barn is hand-crafted from 100% FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) solid pine wood and bamboo from well managed forest and is sealed with a nontoxic, water-based finish.

Instructions for Use

Place in garden or hang 5-7 ft high on a wall or fence that gets morning sunlight, under an overhand if possible
- (Our 6′ fence sounds like a good spot)
Plant native plants and flowers nearby to draw these super-pollinating bees to your bee house
- (Check! Got those)
Create a moist patch of soil near the bee house so bees have mud to protect their young
- (Ok, will do!)
In Autumn, store bee house (with cocooned larvae inside) in an outdoor shed or covered location for winter
- (Our storage shed will work out nicely for this!)
Do not store inside your house
- (Oh, ok, wouldn’t have done that anyway!)
In early spring, return house to original location
- (Sounds easy enough)
Once new bees hatch, clean out nesting tubes with pipe cleaners for next season’s offspring
- (Wait, what? CLEAN?!)
Nesting tray bands and carboard backing should remain in place to protect the bees
- (Got it, carefully clean out the tubes)

Well, all that sounds doable. Although I’m not thrilled about the cleaning out part. Small price to pay to save the bees though!

**Perfect location for the new Bee Nursery!**

Specs

100% FSC Certified Wood
Solid Pine and Bamboo
Attract Native Bees
Includes Butterfly Shelter
Outdoor Use Only
Weight – 7 lbs
Dimensions 14.5 x 11.5 x 7

Are you interested in owning your own bee Nursery? Check your local Costco to see if they still have them. If they do not, Amazon carries them in several sizes and styles. Here is the one like mine.