Bee house

bee house for solitary bees

Yesterday we visited the Oakland Museum to see the "Bees: Tiny Insect, Big Impact" exhibit http://www.museumca.org/exhibit/bees

It's a very informative exhibit, with great visuals and includes interactive features for children.

I really enjoyed it, and learned so much!

If you live in the Bay Area or are visiting, you must see this exhibit!

I bought the bee house in the photo above at the museum store. The house is made of pine harvested from a sustainable forest and in the open square area are hollow bamboo tubes.

The house is meant for solitary bees such as mason bees, who will lay their eggs, one in each tube. They then fill the tubes with pollen and nectar for the young bees to eat.

The house should be facing south and get a lot of sun. We hung our bee house on the back fence facing south, where it will get a lot of sun and we don't often walk.

Now we just need to wait and see if we get any guests.

You can also build your own bee house. Here are some tips and instructions from the National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Build-a-Bee-House.aspx

Image from the Bees: Tiny Insect, Big Impact" exhibit from the Oakland Museum website