Gardening Thread

[fishman65]

Darksky, look for plants that have hollow stems. Teasel is one. Failing that you can buy ready made cardboard tubes online. The South American river should have some.

Then make a small wooden box as deep as the tubes are long. I’ll try to get a picture of mine. It’s solitary bees that use them.

[Darksky]

Do the stems have to be woody….like a bamboo type of thing? Otherwise won’t they just rot? I don’t actually think I’ve got anything.

[fishman65]

In nature the bees would use plant stems, so we're just replicating that. Then there's parasitic wasps/spiders, the bees just have to man up? Or bee up?

I'll try to upload some pics in a bit, that should be a laugh.

PS - yes sorry Darksky yes you could use canes but bear in mind the bee has to crawl up, lay its egg, leave a package of pollen and seal it. So you'd want 4 or 5mm diameter I'd think.

[fishman65]

This will require some head stands
IMG-0486.jpgIMG-0485.jpgIMG-0484.jpgIMG-0483 (1).jpg

[Carnation]

Have I done something to offend you fishman?

[fishman65]

Have I done something to offend you fishman?

Not at all Carnation Bless you, looking back over these posts it does look like I'm ignoring you. But it's not intentional I promise xx

[Darksky]

Did you make all of these? I’m impressed.

Ive nothing like this stuff at all. They sell them on eBay you know would that be cheating….would the bees know?

[fishman65]

The only one I didn't make is the one with the pitched roof.

Yes you could buy off eBay, the bees are unconcerned as to the origins of any potential property.

[Darksky]

Today while on the mooch for hollow stems I saw that……..one of my hollyhock buds is opening. I can even seen the flower petals, a dark wine colour. I wonder if this means they will all start now. Anyway one flower is better than none and I’d really given up on them.

[fishman65]

They will flower now Darksky and into September weather permitting