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I've Created Monsters

It seems like building housing for native bees would be a good thing, but it seems I've created some tiny striped monsters.  With so many options available in my garden, they've started to see everything as potential housing.

Today I watched a leafcutter bee for thirty minutes as she tried to decide between the holes in an orchid pot and the hole in the handle of my Cobrahead tool.  If you're not wondering how I could stare at a bee for 30 minutes, you're my kind of people.  Look closely at the hole in the blue handle - that's her butt in there.  She must've gone in and out fifty times, trying to envision where to put her things.



Can't really see her?  Here's a blurry, but full picture of my little friend.


It's not her fault, really.  The old digs were already buzzin' with new tenants and she had to think fast.  That new fancy place with the green bottles may have looked too rich for her taste, and what's a girl to do with kids on the way?   Here's someone moving into the old place ...



Other option was this waterfront property, but it already had several offers.


Update 2 days later:  she appears to have chosen the CobraHead.



All material © 2013 by Vicki Blachman for Playin' Outside. 
Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
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Comments

katina said…
I don't think my husband will let me build a big insect hotel, but I could probably get away with some of the blocks...I'll have to work on that...
June 10, 2013 at 11:20 AM
sandy lawrence said…
haha. No, I don't wonder how you passed 30 min. watching a bee. I had a wasp nest between the glass and the screen of one of my bank of 4 windows. I must have spent hours watching them from start to finish, coming and going, building that nest and completing the life cycle there. Try explaining to shocked neighbors that you actually allowed that to go on "almost inside your house!" gasp.
Thanks for the chuckle image of Ms. Bee trying to mentally place her furnishings in that handle hole!
June 10, 2013 at 4:11 PM
Jason said…
Funny, you'd think that with the extra shelter options you've created they would be less likely to go for something peculiar. But I suppose you've created a trendy neighborhood for pollinators, so they want to move in anywhere they can.
June 10, 2013 at 7:19 PM
Ally said…
Nope, never questioned the 30 minutes. My garden is a time vortex in which I'm extremely busy, but don't always accomplish much. I'm sure it's because I get distracted by all the fascinating things going on out there.

A new insect hotel is in the works at our house. We're in the collecting materials phase. Can't wait for construction!
June 11, 2013 at 2:41 PM
Rock rose said…
Such fun to watch them. I always have lots of neat hoes in my roses. They seem to like the knockout rose and the American beautyberry.
June 11, 2013 at 3:11 PM
andrea @grwhryrpltd said…
smart bee lady. i too would've picked the cobrahead ;)
June 11, 2013 at 4:17 PM
vbdb said…
Guess I'll be purchasing a new CobraHead - will put a rope through the new handle hole though! Even I draw the line somewhere.
June 11, 2013 at 4:29 PM
Anonymous said…
My shock is how blue the handle of your cobra head still is! Mine is a dirty brown color with no blue in sight anymore. Robin at Getting Grounded
June 11, 2013 at 7:56 PM
Pam/Digging said…
She colonized your Cobrahead? That won't do for weeding. Maybe you'll win another at the upcoming Fling.
June 11, 2013 at 9:20 PM
vbdb said…
Robin - my handle is made of some blue material and color isn't surface only. I think they changed materials at some point.

Pam - went to BSN to purchase another because I don't want to disturb her. Can you believe they don't carry CobraHead? They certainly know about them now.

Ally - please be sure to link to your blog with a comment here when you finish your insect hotel. Can't wait to see it!

Katina - glad you picked up on the little block. It's one of several options (CobraHead handle not originally included) that are available for them in the garden.
June 13, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Unknown said…
I love this post! I wonder what the tipping point was for the handle over the orchid pot? She seems to have made the place nice and homely.
September 9, 2014 at 6:48 AM
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