Photo on the left: Blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria) (Photo Credits – USDA Agricultural Research Service)
Photo on the right: Native bee “house” filled with nesting tubes made from natural reeds. Photo by Tim McCy for Virginia Tech
What’s the “buzz” on mason bees? These precious pollinators come early to our area, popping up in the spring and getting to work on all of the early blooms in our gardens, forests, meadows, and wetlands. Unlike the hives of honey bees that we have at our Binghamton Urban Farm, mason bees are solitary. But don’t worry, gardeners like you help keep them company.
Click here to learn more about mason bees:
https://nystateparks.blog/2020/07/07/the-wonderful-world-of-mason-bees/
https://ccesuffolk.org/agriculture/know-your-mason-bees
Love mason bees so much that you want to build them a home? Click here to learn more: