Become a backyard beekeeper

Published 11:00 am Monday, March 10, 2008

It’s nearly time for bees to begin nesting and if you grow fruits and veggies in your backyard, it makes sense to consider keeping docile mason bees.

Bees play a crucial role in the development of many fruits, including most apples, pears, sweet cherries and plum varieties. Bees move pollen from the male flower parts to the female, and without their help gardeners get a piddly amount of fruit or none at all.

Dave Pehling of the WSU Extension Office, sent out this message to master gardeners. He included some good links to bee information.

Hi all,

Just a note to remind you that we are approaching bumblebee and mason bee nesting season. I’ve seen several bumble queens of several species nectering during our few sunny days and they will soon be searching for nest sites. In warmer areas, they may be at it right now! If you are interested in bumblebee nest boxes or info, we have links on our web site at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/garden/bumble.htm Upholsterer’s cotton is usually mentioned as nesting material and I have a large quantity that I will share with anyone interested. Drop me a line and I can bring some to the office.

As for mason bees, where I live, they usually emerge just about the time that the forsythia and/or flowering cherry blooms. In Granite Falls, this is usually around the end of March, unless we get a bout of cold weather. Now would be a good time to put your blocks out the upcoming season. Info on Mason bees is available on our Web site at http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/inse006/inse006.htm

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Happy Bee-ing

Dave Pehling

Interim Webmaster: WSU Gardening in Western Washington

WSU Extension Snohomish County

600 128th ST SE

Everett, WA. 98208

pehling@wsu.edu