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Garden Gate:  Bee Motel Craft  |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17331 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17331 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 26 2020 : 11:19:06 PM
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I was perusing through a German garden magazine and came across this easy peasy Bee Motel idea.
I am going to do this with my grandkiddos..
all you need is a tin can (soup, veggie etc)
some jute or twine
a hook for hanging
some garden Bamboo rods/straws or hollow tubes.
What an easy project and the Bees will luv it.
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7700 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7700 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2020 : 12:15:31 PM
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Grace, I love this idea! I’m going to add this to my homeschooling projects and have my kids all make one! Thank you for sharing.
Krista |
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suny58
True Blue Farmgirl
4482 Posts
Dianna
Jack
Al.
USA
4482 Posts |
Posted - Aug 28 2020 : 12:19:02 PM
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I LOVE this TOO!! Adding it to my list of things to make as soon as my wrist heals!! :)
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17331 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17331 Posts |
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6766 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6766 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2020 : 05:24:47 AM
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Grace, a few years back, I did my Bee badge and ordered Mason Bees that are indigenous to Florida. It came with a house that had those same bamboo sticks. The kit contained the baby bee larvae which I hatched and then watched them all fly out one by one. The Mason bee house was on the side of the house and my bees never came back!!! The wasps moved in instead!! LOL!! Hopefully your farm area is more likely to have bees that will nest. A friend who did have success with the same bee house as you, lived on a farm and she put her house in on a fence are in a rather thick vegetation area. Her bees loved it so maybe put your bee home in a similar location that is not close to your comings and goings. Good luck and let us know if you get tenets!
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018 |
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suny58
True Blue Farmgirl
4482 Posts
Dianna
Jack
Al.
USA
4482 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2020 : 05:54:33 AM
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Winnie, that is a great story!!! I want to do that! Do you remember where you got the bee kit? I suppose I can google it. I'd love to do this with Sara!I do have 2 bee 'motels' up in the garden. I've noticed several kinds of bee enemies of late and did not realize how much our bees are up against! Bad enough us humans but these awful bee killers are so ugly! You should have seen me chasing one down the road next to the pond trying to save the littl bumblebees bee he had in his grip! Like a science fiction movie!
Farmgirl #7103
FGOTM January 2018
Dianna
"Blessed are they that see beautiful things in humble places, where other people see nothing." Pissarro |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2513 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2513 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2020 : 12:13:58 PM
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Are mason bees everywhere or just in certain locales? I never heard of them around here.
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2020 : 10:57:51 PM
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Very cool, Gracie! Now I want to try!!!
Judith - Mason bees are super cool. They ARE everywhere! And they're super pollinators! Here is a nice little article that will give you a glimpse into their fascinating lives:
https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/about-mason-bees/8198.html
Enjoy!
We have them, and I just love them!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6766 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6766 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2020 : 05:23:12 AM
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Thanks Nini for sharing your site because if has been a long time since I did the Mason Bee project. One thing I did learn is that you need to order Mason Bees that are indigenous to your area. For my area of Florida, there was only one specific species to be found. Yes, the reason I was so hopeful is that the Masons are great pollinators and , as a beginner, it was not a big expensive set up like honey bees would be. It was easier to lose $50+ dollars than $400+ dollars and I am so glad I opted to try with Mason bees first. The UNiversity of Florida here does have a honey Bee producing major under the Ag School. I signed up for their newsletters and I am amazed at how complicated Bees and Bee survival are these days. There are all sorts of viruses and pests that are harming bee productions and a lot of research is being done to see what can be done to support healthy bee keeping and preserving these important pollinators for such a big agricultural state as Florida. Farmgirls... you know how we love and want our Florida Strawberries in January!! LOL!!! Not to mention our favorite Citrus come Christmas time. NOthing better than those Florida Satsuma , Navel, and Valencia oranges and our big pink and sweet Indian River Grapefruits! Then you head out to the Florida peninsula and there is that magnificent and limited Tupelo Honey that extends up to your way, Dianna , in southern Alabama.
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018 |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2513 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2513 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2020 : 09:21:27 AM
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Thank you for the info. I ordered a bee house from Amazon. Now to wait and see who moves in. Where is the best place to hang it?
Judith
7932
Happiness is Homemade |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17331 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17331 Posts |
Posted - Sep 16 2020 : 8:41:25 PM
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Judith, Because we have snow and strong winds I have my Bee Motel in a corner that hardly gets snow or wind,, keep your motel slightly sheltered where heat, extreme cold, harsh winds and rains wont effect it...
My motel is almost full.. I have about 5 tubes unfilled....
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17331 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17331 Posts |
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Nancy Joplin
True Blue Farmgirl
397 Posts
Nancy
Ontario
California
USA
397 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2021 : 10:54:26 AM
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Grace
Thanks for sharing a great idea for the bees! We need to support the bee population!I plan on making a few of these. . .I think that my neighbors would appreciate them, too!
Nancy 8352 |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7700 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7700 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2021 : 1:42:30 PM
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How has your bee motel held up?
Krista |
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isewbernina
True Blue Farmgirl
223 Posts
Kathy
Salina
KS
USA
223 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2021 : 2:38:24 PM
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I wonder if I could make one? Looks easy enough to do.
Kathy
“Kindness is Free, Sprinkle that Stuff Everywhere.”
"I was cut out to be rich but I was sewn up wrong"
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17331 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17331 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2021 : 1:22:03 PM
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my wooden Bee Motel held up through our long Winter.. but my 'residents' have not emerged yet.. still watching daily,, but now that it is getting warmer, I suspect the residents will 'bee' eating their stored food source to get out.
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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Dreamer42
True Blue Farmgirl
2805 Posts
April
Central
Oregon
USA
2805 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2021 : 6:44:39 PM
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Love that idea, Grace! Thanks for sharing!! I had a friend gift me my very first bee motel last year and I love it, but I got it up too late so they haven't moved in yet. So, i'm patiently awaiting their arrival this year. Can't wait. We have two hills of lavendar plants in our back yard, maybe 100 plants total? At any rate, one of my favorite things to do in the summer is watch the lavendar sway in the breeze and listen to the bees humm and buzz as I sit ever so close. Such peaceful little creatures too!! :-)
Dreamer42
Farmgirl Sister #7038 |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7700 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7700 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2021 : 1:47:13 PM
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That’s so neat Grace. I bet my kids would love making one.we will definitely have to try this year.
Krista |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17331 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17331 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2021 : 2:00:15 PM
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I was out in my garden.. and, I am that person that is not fussy about Dandilions.. and goodness.. I spotted 3 Honey Bees enjoying the dandilions...
Last year the number of Bees was down.. even my flowering Quince was not loaded with bees like it usually is..
Hoping this year will be a better Bee year...
As for my Bee Motel.. they still have not emerged,, but I noticed several of the plugs are being moved/and munched on.. so fingers crossed...
Also,, don't forget, not all Bees are tress/motel nesters.. some are ground burrowers...
I do have a couple of Bumbles in my Iris/poppy patch,,, lots of Dandilions around there too!
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7700 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7700 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2021 : 1:35:27 PM
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Grace, we have TONS of dandelions this year. The field behind us is loaded with them. I was literally thinking just yesterday that maybe we have so many dandelions because we need our bee population up. I hope it will help them.
Krista |
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Garden Gate: Bee Motel Craft |
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Bee Motel Craft
