Making Humble Bee Nests

[Jez]

As a some of you may have already noticed on a thread of Cazzie's, I'm intending to make some ball hanging baskets covered with native wildflowers. I'm now thinking about making bumble bee nests if possible to be buried inside the of the balls, but not sure if it could be a goer, due to not knowing the size of a nest needed for bumble bees or what I can get away with! Hoping you can help me out with this one, cheers!

Jez

[Jez]

No replies, must be me. I'll sort it!

[Hedera]

Just a thought - you'll need to water the hanging baskets won't you? Bees don't like getting wet. Bumble bees usually nest in old mouse or vole nests in the ground, or under hedgebotttoms in leaf mould etc. You could try old tennis balls as long as the entry holes didn't let wet in.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Hedera

Just a thought - you'll need to water the hanging baskets won't you? Bees don't like getting wet. Bumble bees usually nest in old mouse or vole nests in the ground, or under hedgebotttoms in leaf mould etc. You could try old tennis balls as long as the entry holes didn't let wet in.

I was thinking of a waterproof nest as seen on Wild About Your Garden, BBC Prog so if tennis balls are small enough I could get do larger. Thanks Hedera

[Hedera]

Start collecting some very fine grass and little bits of moss to dry and poke in the nests. That will encourage the bees. Stipa tenuissima is good.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Hedera

Start collecting some very fine grass and little bits of moss to dry and poke in the nests. That will encourage the bees. Stipa tenuissima is good.

Will do not forgetting these will be perennial baskets filled lined with moss and added to the nests. I have save some of my hair cuttings also, they did it on the programme with the family dogs hair, so I thought I'd donate my thick mop too!