[A quick follow-up: one of the best twitter threads I've read so far on this topic is here: https://twitter.com/MezBreezeDesign/status/1097211711717658624]
On Thu, Feb 14, 2019 at 6:32 AM Helen Varley Jamieson < [email protected]> wrote: > > On 12.02.19 02:22, Mez Breeze via NetBehaviour wrote: > > > but in germany i'm limited to the balcony. i've had an "insect hotel" on >> it for a couple of years but no insects have shown any interest in it yet. >> > > ...where is the insect hotel placed? Sometimes too much or little sun can > effect them depending on season? > > if anything it gets too little sun; our balcony is east-facing, & the > insect house is on the wall that doesn't get any direct sunlight. i'll try > moving it to the other end of the balcony where it gets sun up to early > afternoon in the summer. > > > You could go for an actual home-made bee attractant like is shown here > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl0o2aytaFE>, though I've never tried > it. I'd also be careful where you source your plants/seeds too - heritage > and local varieties suited [native] to your region/season could help, and > make sure to always go true organic [as opposed to greenwashed > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing> organic] that haven't been > artificially boosted with all types of chemical crud. And never use > pesticides/herbicides - use companion planting methods > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_planting> + seaweed/kelp > solution as tonic + good compost [do you have an in-home composting setup > <https://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/i-just-started-composting-my-apartment-and-you-can-too.html> > for your apartment? Homemade is the best, and it stops vegie/fruit scraps > going to landfill.] > > great, i'll try the insect attractant. all seeds are proper organic ones, > into organic potting soil, & definitely no pesticides or herbicides going > into the balcony garden, only additives are organic fertilisers & composts. > the city does composting here, so we add our compost into that (get a > voucher for free compost in return). > > > And it does sound like you're doing all the right things - I'd suggest > keeping up planting anything with a blue/purple flowers: > > *"According to Bee Culture <http://www.beeculture.com/bees-see-matters/>, > the most likely colors to attract bees are purple, violet and blue.* > > *A study of nine bumblebee colonies in Germany found that those who > favored purple blooms were greatly rewarded for their preference.* > > *“In the area we studied, violet flowers produced the most nectar – far > more than the next most rewarding flower color (blue),” Dr. Nigel Raine > from Queen Mary’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences told > ScienceDaily > <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070624141133.htm>. > “Inexperienced bees are known to have strong color preferences, so we > investigated whether the bumblebee colonies with a stronger preference for > violet flowers foraged more successfully in their local flora.”* > > *Raine found that the bumblebees developed their favorite color over time, > corresponding with the most nectar-rich flowers."* [From: > https://www.totallandscapecare.com/landscaping-blog/bee-vision-and-the-color-purple/ > ] > >> great - we always have lots of cornflowers, & some other purple ones that > i don't know the name of, plus lavendar. the bees also seem to like > nasturtiums, which we always have plenty of too. i'll look into more purple > flowers. > > thanks, > > h : ) > > -- >> >> helen varley jamieson >> >> [email protected] >> http://www.creative-catalyst.com >> http://www.upstage.org.nz >> > _______________________________________________ > NetBehaviour mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour > -- | mezbreezedesign.com
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