Welcome Spring with Blooming Natives and Mason Bees! 🌸🐝
Spring is here, and it’s an exciting time for gardeners and pollinator enthusiasts alike! Early-blooming native plants are beginning to pop up, and with the warmer weather, it’s also mason bee season. These gentle and hardworking pollinators, Osmia lignaria, are ready to help your garden flourish—but timing and preparation are key to a successful season.
When to Put Out Your Mason Bees
With recent 60-degree days, you might feel tempted to release your mason bees. Wait until you see blooms like fruit trees, maple trees, dandelions, or flowering currants in your area, and around Vancouver those things are blooming now! These early flowers provide essential food sources for your bees, and since mason bees only fly about 500 feet, having nearby blooms is critical. If you’re not sure there is enough forage around for the bees you could try putting out half of your bee cocoons now and waiting a few weeks to put out the second half.
Setting Up for Success
Once it’s time to release your bees, set their houses up in a sunny spot, ideally facing east or south to catch the morning sun. Good options include fences, sheds, or under the eaves of your house. If you’ve struggled with mason bees in past seasons, consider relocating your bee house to a new spot with better conditions.
Starting Fresh
If your bee house has been empty for a while, it can take several seasons for bees to find and use it. To jumpstart your success, consider purchasing mason bee cocoons from local sources like Backyard Bird Shop. This can help you establish a thriving population more quickly.
Tips for Setting Out Mason Bee Houses and Cocoons
Bee Cocoons Are Rainproof: No need to worry about rain showers. Mason bee cocoons are naturally waterproof and can handle spring rains just fine.
Check for Nearby Blooms: Before putting your bee cocoons outside, make sure there are flowers blooming within a few hundred feet of your bee houses. Bees need immediate access to food sources to thrive.
Timing Depends on Your Area: Every microclimate is unique. If your neighborhood is still waiting for blooms or if you live at a higher elevation, it’s okay to wait a few more weeks. Waiting will align your bees’ emergence with peak forage availability.
Warm Weather and Blooms Mean Go Time: If you have a variety of flowers blooming nearby, feel free to set those cocoons outside! The warming temperatures will encourage the bees to emerge and start pollinating.
Need Supplies?
We sell high-quality mason bee houses and other supplies to get you started. Visit our online store to find everything you need to support your local pollinators.
Learn More with Our Quick Guide
For more tips and information, check out our Mason Bee Quick Guide. You’ll find everything you need to make this season a buzz-worthy success. And don’t forget to check out the OSU Extension resource Nurturing Mason Bees in Your Backyard in Western Oregon for more in-depth information.
Let’s welcome spring with vibrant blooms and happy pollinators. 🐝🌷 With 70-degree weather in the forecast and blooms popping up everywhere, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your mason bees! These hardworking pollinators are ready to emerge, and with just a little preparation, you can ensure they thrive in your backyard.
Happy spring!
