I noticed that a lot of weeds were pushing their way through the bottom of the garden fence from the scrubby land at the back of our garden. Rather than risk breaking and squashing the plants in my border I decided to see if it would be possible to get at the worst of the weeds from the other side of the fence. The grass isn’t quite as high as an elephant’s eye, but not too far off it!
Check out my hideous gardening togs, they keep me well covered up anyway. First I had to force my way out there as the back gate opens out the way and there was a lot of greenery to push it past. Almost as soon as I started clearing away some of the rough grass, just by grabbing handfuls of it and pulling, I realised that I had uncovered a strange wee nest structure. I thought it must have been something constructed by a field mouse at first but a flurry of bee activity made it obvious that the inhabitants were bees. And yes, I do have ground elder creeping into the garden too, what have I done to deserve that?
So that was just about the end of my weeding, I pushed my hand under the fence into the garden to reach some goosegrass which was scrambling under it but I didn’t want to disturb any more bees. I could see that they must have at least one more wee hoose further along, going by their activity.
I’m quite chuffed that they have chosen to set up home so close to the garden, but I suppose to them it’s like being on Tesco’s doorstep, or maybe even Waitrose!
I feel I’m doing my bit to keep the bees happy anyway. I was a bit worried that they would abandon their home because it was definitely more open to the elements than it had been. So I checked it out the next morning and overnight they had covered up the top opening as you can see from the photo above, and were going in and out via a lower opening. I need to get that book about bees which Joan reviewed recently, Dave Goulson’s A Sting in the Tale.
And this foxglove is one of the flowers which is attracting them, although I think that that is a different sort of bee.
Thanks for the great photos, Katrina. You know I was dying to see them. After I learned how many different kinds of bees there are, I despair of ever being able to identify more than a few kinds. Your red-tailed ones are lovely! I don’t think we have those in the US. And so very clever to place their nest near food, and to mend it so quickly. Busy as a bee!
Joan,
I’m now not sure if they are red tailed bees but they have red bands on them according to J. I’ll need to get my reading specs on to get a better look. There are definitely a few different types flying around here. I managed to get that book today.
Maybe next year you should start off doing one row against the fence with the mower or weed eater each week.
My foxglove stalks bent over and drooped. I was so disappointed that they did that. Maybe it was all the rain and wind we’ve had. I finally cut them off yesterday. There are several new stalks coming up on all three plants though.
Peggy Ann,
My foxgloves are holding up well to our weather but there are more spikes coming so they should be around for quite a while yet.
If I suggest to J that he mows anything out the back – he’ll have a nervous breakdown!
LOL! I do believe he would!
Quaint wee bees! (There might be all sorts of critters in the long grass!)
One of my neighbours has a convolvulus/bindweed-farm, to judge by the amount that encroaches under the boundary fence.
I have mostly bumble-bees visiting my foxgloves in their season.
Valerie,
There could be all sorts of things in the grass but thankfully none of them will be dangerous. Bindweed is one weed which I don’t have, nor horsetail either but plenty of thistles and something similar to a bramble but not as jaggy, with roots which go everywhere, it’s a nightmare.
Hooray for your bees! I had a nest in my compost bin last year and it was marvelous. No nest this year though, at least that I have discovered. As for the gardening togs, I think you look just fine. I’d be worried about anyone who gardens in the latest high fashions!
Stefanie,
I’ve just bought a bug hotel which will hopefully be inhabited by beasties who will eat the greenfly on my roses. It cost me all of £3 but I suppose I could have easily made one from a bundle of bamboo sticks tied together. I hope you get some bee nests this year, Evee had three nests in one of her plant tubs last year!