General Chat

I leave them something sweet, a little bowl of jam or even an unwrapped sweetie and they leave me alone.

After all, they are only really interested in gathering food and sting in self defence.

Not one of them has a knife or a bicycle chain in their pocket.

They do a sterling job on the aphids too.

I don't mind solitary wasps, they seem more interested in the flowers than my beer!!

Wasps oh no I hate the things. Had a couple find their way into my summer house so had to do a quick exit and get OH to let them out. I am allergic to them. :-(

I've got a solitary wasp nest in my shed, attached to the roof (inside).
Which is a bit of a shame, because, either the shed is being demolished and replaced by a new shed, or, more likely, the (leaking)roof will be removed and replaced.

I never had any last year, or the year before, but in 2012, I had 5 solitary wasp's nests in my shed. :-S

Maybe just regional differences then, the borage has hardly died off here over winter, and seems to be much taller than last year, and has spread everywhere...no sign of the foxgloves yet, I have a feeling they may have been smothered by the borage...I may have to be brutal with it this year.

I have Pulmonarias in my front garden and have had loads of bees again this year.

My borage doesn't seem to have made an appearence yet but usually attracts a lot of bees so fingers crossed the bees I've got stay around. :-)

There is very little pollen yet to gather for bees.,apart from fruit trees .although I killed wasp this morning who decided to venture in though a bedroom window.

Some are about but some are looking for a nest site,,,,,,,,,.Ive had lots of bees on the wallflowers at the allotment this past week or maybe its the same few keep coming back :-D

Quite a few yesterday around the Foxglove flowers, but none there today. There's slightly more breeze today if that has a bearing.

One had to be shoo-d off the watering can earlier whilst quenching its thirst...presumably.
Over the years there does seem to have been a decline in Bee numbers

Just been out again and there are a few more this afternoon so maybe it is just a question of the temperature being changeable, I think there's supposed to be a frost in the morning so maybe they are just not venturing forth much at the moment.

Just been for a walk round the estate and not a bee anywhere and we have in blossom Wegelia, lots of Aquilegia, Clematis, Aubretia, hardy geranium, a few roses, pansies, wallflowers. Checked with T and he said (and I agree) there were quite a lot when the apple blossom was out, also the blossom tree in our neighbours garden. But the blossom has gone now.

I haven't really been concentrating on them Rose but have seen quite a few, particularly bumble bees. I shall now go and check, although it is very windy so they may not be around at the moment.

Haven't seen any yet in our garden . They usually though like to turn up when the lilies are in full bloom and they are only just sending up their new growth so a bit too early

Now ants we have in abundance .darn things . They swarm all over Harold's food plate on the patio but I can't put down any powder or spray em as its too dangerous for Harold the tortoise

it's still very cold at night, maybe they will come out when it's warmer..

I have seen quite a few
whilst pottering and painting my garden

I guess they must all be on holiday in the Boro ;-) ;-)

I love lilacs, the two I have planted here haven't flowered much yet, they're only small but growing :-)

Our lilac is out and not a bee on it.

Guinevere, I just went out to check again, it's a lovely day here, but only 4 bees and this in the borage patch which has doubled in size since last year :-( The weigela is only in bud, but if there are so few bees when that is out also I really will start to worry .

Come to think of it I haven't, Rose. *frets*

Thanks Ann, I'm a bit north of you so my aquilegia are not out yet, though they are in bud :-)

saw some yesterday in the aqueliga