Now that I’m here, and most of the boxes are unpacked, I want to start thinking about native bee houses. We don’t have a yard big enough for honey bees, but mason bees and bumble bees should like our garden. I’ve been researching how to build various houses. The mason bee houses are simple. Just take a 4×4 about 6 inches long and fill it full of 5/16″ holes about 3 to 5 inches deep. Then just add a little roof on top. You then just mount them on a post in a south facing spot and leave them alone.
Bumble bee houses can be made from coffee cans, wooden boxes, or Styrofoam coolers. You fill the container with carpenter’s cotton, add some drainage holes, and make a little opening with a piece of garden hose. Then bury the house, 6-12 inches deep and hope for some visitors.