I finally decided where to begin construction of a new pollinator garden. This project originally came from wanting to provide more resources for the many carpenter bees I often find on my property. My raspberry bushes are often swarming with carpenter bees, honeybees, bumblebees, and a variety of other pollinators during the summer, so I've decided to build the new garden near the bushes. I'll be digging out a corner of the yard around my small maple tree, and along the cedar hedges a bit. I'll post updates here as the project progresses.
March 27:
This week, I obtained a decent sized log from one of the trees that was recently cut down in a nearby park by construction workers. The logs were discarded by the gully, so I retrieved one to use for housing. I'll be drilling several 6" deep tunnels into the log to provide nesting sites for solitary bees. This will likely be tucked under the raspberries. I'm hoping I can retrieve one or two more to provide more nesting sites, and maybe some of the branches that were discarded.
The workers destroyed a neighbor's fence that was also built out of unfinished logs. Instead of rebuilding it, she offered if I wanted any of the materials, so I retrieved some of the thicker pieces for the project. The logs have a few tunnels through them, and are well weathered. I intend to use them as a border for the garden, and am hoping the variety of natural pits and contours will provide more shelter for insects.
This is also the same corner of the yard that I intend to dig out for the garden.
I've already seen some early honeybees in the yard, so I picked up some common hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) as a food source while the garden project is in-progress. There's a pink one currently in-bloom, and a selection of blues, purples and whites that are approaching blooms. Hopefully the garden construction doesn't take too long, and these can be moved in soon. I'll be keeping an eye on the nurseries over the next while for more additions. (Thank you to everyone in the pollinator forum for their plant recommendations!)
First hyacinth purchase. Only paid $2.50 because it was already in bloom:
Purples nearing bloom:
Blues nearing bloom:
The full selection. There's some whites in there as well:
$4.99 each for the smaller pots with a single plant. $7.99 for the larger pots, which had 3 plants per pot, and therefore was a much better deal.
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