For those of us in zone 7 now is the time to put out bee blocks. They start hatching soon. A good indicator is the first bloom on fruit trees. Locally, some stores carry the bees which can be used to jump start a colony. This is also the time to start putting out humming bird feeders. Why have mason bees? Mason bees are solitary bees that hatch early enough to pollinate fruit trees. In this area these bees are essential to a good fruit harvest. The mason bee is claimed to be about 90 times better at pollination than the common honey bee. I've heard even higher estimates so this isn't an exaggeration. What is needed to start a colony? Blocks of wood with 5/16 holes drilled 5-6 inches are all that is needed. It helps to put the blocks under a south eave. Optionally, a starter block with bees can be mounted in a dry location. jeff
