The OKC Native Bee House
The OKC pollinator garden includes not only native plants that provide food sources for pollinators (e.g. nectar and pollen), but also much needed nesting habitat for solitary native bees. This native bee ‘house’ adds both form and function to the garden; serving as sculptural nature art AND bee habitat in the garden.
Note: please read the “Get to know a native bee!” post to learn more about solitary gentle native bees that use these types of nesting materials.
The bee house is located at one end of the pollinator garden, facing East so the entrance of the bee nests are exposed to the morning sun. The house structure and materials provide sheltered habitat. Campers created and filled the bee house with 4 types of materials for hole-nesting bees. Bees like tubes that vary in size from 1/8″-5/16″ diameter with a closed end.
Paper straws
Campers used 8.5 x 11″ recycled paper to create bundles of 2 different sized paper straws (3/16″ dowel and No.2 pencil). One end was folded to form a closed end, and then each straw was cut to size (6-8″ length).
Bamboo
This fast-growing grass is a sustainable resource that naturally grows in hollow segments with a closed end ideal for hole nesting bees. Thanks to the Hammond family in Trappe for donating dead bamboo.
Natural reeds (e.g. phragmites stems)
Last years stems from this invasive estuary/marsh grass were collected locally. This grass also naturally grows in hollow segments with a closed end.
Holes drilled in scrap wood & logs
Campers drilled different sized holes, 4-6″ deep, in a variety of scrap wood and log pieces. Thanks to Larry Murray for inviting campers to his workshop in Oxford to use a drill press to make this process go smoother and faster than by hand! Thanks also to Bill Eason for donating scrap wood and logs.
Over the next 3 weeks, Art and Nature campers will continue to add materials to the native bee house and then observe activity over time.
Here’s hoping the bees find some real estate they love!