Mason Bees are here for a limited time only!!

Mason Bees and Mason Bee products are here for a limited time only so hurry in while stocks last.

 

The Mason Bee, Osmia lignaria, also known as the blue orchard bee, is one of many wild solitary bee species present in North America. It is friendly, and an efficient pollinator. They are called “Mason” because they construct walled-off chambers for each egg they lay. Mason bees begin working early in spring when flowers and fruit trees are beginning to blossom. After emerging from their cocoons and mating, the female Mason bees goes to work collecting pollen and nectar, while also pollinating your blossoms.

In both cities and suburbs, we depend on wild bees such as bumble bees and honey bees to pollinate our fruit tree blossoms. Two species of parasitic mites have decimated our wild honey bee colonies (though beekeepers are able to keep mite levels down in managed honey bee colonies). The dramatic reduction in wild honey bee colonies has left us with very few honey bees in our garden.

One solution to this lack of fruit is to provide nests, and nectar and pollen producing flowers for local solitary bees such as the Mason bee. This will increase the number of Mason bees and provide the pollination level we need to get a reasonable fruit crop.

Mason bees need nesting tunnels and food for their developing young. We sell a nesting tray system that helps Mason bees thrive and stay healthy from one year to the next. This is of great benefit to the backyard gardener.