Luvachicken Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Usually at this time of year, my foxgloves are buzzing all day long with bees. This year I've hardly seen any. It's quite sad. I don't know if the bad winter hit them hard. I don't always spot things in trouble but this is obvious. Anyone else noticed the same ? On the plus side, I do have a little bees nest under some rocks - mini bumble bee looking bees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 We have plenty of bees from big bumblebees to little ones that have, at last, started to use our bug hotel. We've also got lots of wasps and I've been stung already, the wee blighters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 We have another wild bees nest this year and the little bees are coming into my house and my neighbours,unfortunately she works and comes home to a windowsill of dead bees. Meanwhile I spend a lot of time catching them in tumbler and putting them out,even with that there is good dozen corpses in the morning. Why are they coming in,in such high numbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 Oh, that reminds me of a few years ago, in our previous house, when we kept getting bumblebees coming into the kitchen. We couldn't find where they got in but every day of weeks one or two would be buzzing about. I kind of missed them when they didn't show up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 I think we had a very long winter with wet outnumbering dry days - then there was a lovely spell and then the month that followed was horrid. The wild ones probably didn't get a chance to build up their stocks, while bee keepers probably dished out fondant. Seems even then some smaller hives didn't survive. Hopefully they will make a good comeback later for next year. The only thing we can do is to add early flowering plants for them - dead head the dandelions before they set seed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 Have seen a lot more bees over the last couple of days in my garden Went to visit West Green Gardens in Hartley Wintney yesterday and there were hundreds of bees there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 Had a walk around Alresford the other day. Again more fields of rape - but it should have been teeming with life. It wasn't. It's horrid and weird. Finally we spotted one daredevil of a honey bee. All very sad. But - wonderful that you found somewhere close that is bee paradise! I am definitely going to be doing a big nature drive when we move. Well it can't be all bad - I could hear skylarks and they don't eat air, so I have hopes that it is already beetropolis down there so I can make it better and make sure there's plenty for the butterflies and moths! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 Moths must have increased because for a long time I haven't seen them crash into our car but when we came back in the dark the other day there were loads heading for the headlights, silly things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Went to new house to be yesterday. The field is full of buttercups and clover - didn't venture further as we spent so much time in the garden and in the house with the current owner. So I wasn't able to investigate further, but it was very promising. Lots of wildlife - butterflies too. And a deer in the garden! Will have to watch out for not so nice wildlife - ticks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Our hawthorn was buzzing with them for the last 2 weeks - sadly over now. And my friend who keeps bees said hers are do really well this year. She’s hoping no oilseed rape will be planted near her. I don’t know if it’s the insecticides they use or the plant itself but apparently it kills them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 In addition oilseed rape tends to flower early and be in huge quantities so it attracts lots of bees, then the honey sets hard and is not overly pleasant, another reason not to want it nearby as a beek. You really don't want deer in your garden Valkyrie, they will eat anything and everything, particularly your most prized crops! However, lots of wild flowers and deep mixed forage cover will be excellent for bees, insects and all sorts of small mammals, although you may have to manage some of it to get diversity, for example buttercups have a tendency to run and smother everything sometimes. You really have the best of both worlds with a garden and a field. Have you all seen bee flies - flies which look like bees? They have a long proboscis, and are quite noisy with a tendency to hover, they are often a ginger colour and quite appealing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrannyTrish Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, Daphne said: Have you all seen bee flies - flies which look like bees? They have a long proboscis, and are quite noisy with a tendency to hover, they are often a ginger colour and quite appealing! 1 1 Yes! A couple of years ago I was watching a couple of them hovering over our lawn. They're really quite cute. Edited June 8, 2018 by GrannyTrish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share Posted June 8, 2018 I think the bees in my garden were just waiting for a warm spell I've seen loads of bees now. I watched Springwatch the other day and saw the bit with the Red Mason bee house - thinking I might like one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 The bees are going mad for my comfrey but not much else in the garden. Hopefully, once the roses open, they'll enjoy those too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
