A friend of mine has been doing the mason orchard bee thing for the last 25 years and put together this video with help from production people at the UofM. I was impressed and hope you find it useful; I was treated to an in-person hands on today and now am the proud owner of a bee block with a dozen cells. Full of useful details about setting up, collecting and caring for the cocoons, and perpetuating the colony.
John Holbrook on Mason bees:
Takes time to copy over so please be patient!
I researched the tubes then decided to just grow some native plants with tall stems that I leave alone for a year or so. The lady at One Green World, where I bought raspberry plants, said my yields would increase significantly with a Mason Bee colony. BTW I had great customer service at OGW.
Looks like raspberries bloom about a month after my apples, pears but hope the bees have me on their map.
I’m planning to put my bees outside next week. I’m seeing crocus and anemones in bloom, and that’s about when they usually hatch. (I don’t want them to hatch inside)
Saw an article about climate change the other day, and it mentioned how many plants are blooming earlier. I don’t recall crocus in bloom here at this time before.
John (of the video) told me he thought we are experiencing a shorter bloom period and he’s concerned that a lot of the bees migrate to follow the bloom rather than staying put.
This video is really good and helpful for people trying to start Mason bees.
Commercial Internet site, RENTMASONBEESdotcom has multiple training information on Mason Bees and free educational programs, for all ages. Good reading, learning and participation opportunity available.
Have people had trouble with rodents getting into the bee houses?
I have not heard of that. We hang ours under the eaves on the garage, (facing eastish) and I think it would be at least challenging for rodents to get to it. I hope.
Woodpeckers did some damage to my mason bee house last year.
One year squirrels got into mine.
Foo - they did start to hatch already.
We (PNW) have finally see three days of 60 degree weather.
By bees were put out on Monday.
Too sunny to see into the nest for activity or hatching, as I hold my breath.
NK!? got any Mason Bees for your fruit trees?
Thank you for the most clear video ive seen on the topic
I’ll pass that along to John. He’s a very well organized thinker (as well as a very fine poet and teacher). Retired now, he’s the one who started me grafting over 20 years ago.
Thanks for the great video, it’s inspiring. Maybe I’ll make one this year.
@Noddykitty Tag from Whidbey Island
