Free Mason Bees!

We have been considering purchasing Mason bees for a couple years now, and just haven't gotten around to it. However, a few weeks ago we discovered that Mason bees had begun tunnel-nesting under a gardening tray we left on the deck.  Right away we went out and grabbed this adorable little bee house for them to have a safe, and aesthetically pleasing, place to lay their eggs. 

Mason bees are fascinating! They are solitary bees with no hive or territorial instincts, so they do not sting. Males do not even have a stinger, and females will only sting if threatened. They are also master pollinators, since they showed up every flower on our lemon tree has a baby lemon growing. 

We have very much enjoyed counting the filled tubes each day, (23 today!), and monitoring their progress. Next spring the new recruits will emerge to help pollinate our garden.  Ain't nature grand!