New neighbours / myLot

United Kingdom

June 2, 2023 8:17am CST

Last year Little One got a ‘bee house’ for her birthday from one of her friends. We helped her choose a suitable spot (in the sun) and put it up, but it got disappointingly little interest from its intended users. Maybe that was too late in the year though. A few days ago I walked past and glanced at it; still no signs of use and I was thinking maybe we should try putting it in a different place. But before I had time to do anything about it, a day or two later I glanced at it again and this time a couple of the tubes had been filled up. I fetched Little One to show her – and then as we stood there looking at it a bee came buzzing past and disappeared inside. And then another one headed to another tube. We stood there watching them come and go for a while, and trying to capture a photograph, and eventually I managed to catch a bee just as it popped its head out. Now we are intrigued and considering putting up some more! All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.

8 people like this

9 responses

Anna

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

2 Jun 23

I also bought one of those and another that is supposed to be a "butterfly house". It takes some days before the insects trust the new houses, but once they start to come they enjoy those houses.

4 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

4 Jun 23

I did read that they should be brought indoors over winter. Do you do that?

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

4 Jun 23

@Fleura - I bought only two months ago. I could brought them inside the garden house in winter. I have to check.

1 person likes this

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (54714)

• United States

6 Jun 23

@LadyDuck Does the butterfly house look different then the bee one ?

2 people like this

Show more comments

Jessica

@JESSY3236 (22199)

• United States

6 Jun 23

I'm not a fan of bees, but that is a cool little bee house.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

6 Jun 23

How can you not like a cute furry bumble bee??

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

6 Jun 23

@JESSY3236 Bumblebees very rarely sting. Did you know you can stroke them? Just gently stroke their furry backs with your finger and the most they will do is hold up one leg to say 'Go away I'm busy'!

1 person likes this

Jessica

@JESSY3236 (22199)

• United States

6 Jun 23

@Fleura lol I was stung on my toe when I was little. I was swinging in a swing when it happened. I screamed and then a girl that lived behind us screamed after me.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (54714)

• United States

6 Jun 23

I’ve never seen a bee house before. I’m glad that the bees are moving in.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

6 Jun 23

They seem to have been a 'thing' here for a while. I guess it's an effort to make up for the damage we've been causing.

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (14782)

• Ireland

2 Jun 23

@fleura That is indeed rewarding.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (14782)

• Ireland

4 Jun 23

@Fleura They’re hanging around my lavender bush like nobody’s business through quite a bombilation into the otherwise silent afternoon.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

4 Jun 23

I like bees of all kinds.

Show more comments

LindaOH

@LindaOHio (222222)

• United States

2 Jun 23

That's wonderful that you have a bee house. Bees need to be encouraged to start a hive. Every little bit helps. Have a good weekend.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

2 Jun 23

These are solitary bees, one female lays an egg and closes it up in a hole with provisions for the baby.

1 person likes this

LindaOH

@LindaOHio (222222)

• United States

2 Jun 23

@Fleura Interesting. I didn't know they did that.

1 person likes this

CarolDM

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

2 Jun 23

A neighbor did this a few years and it was lots of fun to watch. I have so many now with my flowers, bumble bees and honey bees to enjoy. These are really fun, and with kids as well.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

4 Jun 23

I am very fond of bees, I can manage to identify four or five species. Last year we had a tree bumblebee nest just under our eaves but this year a bluetit has taken over the same spot.

1 person likes this

CarolDM

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

4 Jun 23

@Fleura Good to hear you enjoy the bees too. Same here. There is a decline in many areas. But not here. I provide nectar for them in the garden.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (120533)

• United States

2 Jun 23

How exciting for her! I have seen those little bee houses, but didn't really understand how they worked. It must be such fun for her to see nature in action.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

4 Jun 23

Many people know about honeybees, but not so many know about other types of bees. In this country we have about 270 species of bee and almost 250 of those are solitary bees. I have a long way to go before I can identify more than about five of them!

1 person likes this