What a joy!
I love the Spring. It’s such a magical time of year.
With the daffodils and tulips in full flower, it’s great to be back in the garden, sewing seeds and planting.
And walks with the pup in the fields and woods around my house, watching the animals and insects make their preparations for a new year.
One thing I have noticed more of this year is the gardener’s friend: the solitary bee.
They are quite fascinating creatures.
I was aware of them but what I didn’t know is that there are about 250 different types. If you see a bee it’s likely a solitary one as there are only 20 types of bumblebee and honey bee.
As their name suggests they don’t live in hives with others but on their own, building nests in mud, clay, wood, plant stems and, in the case of the ones in the fields around us, the earth.
They emerge as the warmer weather comes and there have been many hovering over the grass.
The females can sting if threatened or touched and although it’s not a strong one, I’m sure the pup would not appreciate this on his nose 👃
They are better pollinators than the bumblebee or the honey bee, so we need to encourage them into our gardens.
We have sewen some wild flower seeds down near the veg garden.
Hopefully they will come.
Roll on that bumper harvest