Make a positive identification with pictures and descriptions for the bees you're likely to encounter in the garden. Can you tell a bee from a wasp? Or a honeybee from a carpenter bee?

Mar 22, 2023 · To make a bee garden, you must plant bee-friendly flowers and trees that bloom at different times of the year. Then provide bee nests and hotels where solitary bees can lay their eggs, provide a clean water source, and avoid using pesticides.

Feb 18, 2025 · Here are beneficial types of garden bees that need a boost from gardeners. Garden bees are tremendously important pollinators of plants, commercial crops, and native vegetation. There are over 4,000 native North American garden bee species, in addition to the European honeybee, and many are in decline.

Sep 27, 2023 · Knowing how to identify bees that nest in the ground is vital. Some ground-nesting bees are harmless, whereas others are territorial and can become aggressive if you get too close. Bees, like honey bees (Apis mellifera), are known for living in …

If you would like to tell apart the different types of bees, we're here to help with a complete guide to the most common bee species, including their shapes, colors, and the time of year you'll see them out and about.

21 hours ago · Unlike more aggressive bees, mining bees are solitary and non-aggressive, making them safe around children and pets. Encouraging these bees involves minimal effort—just provide undisturbed patches of soil and early-flowering plants. Their presence in the garden signifies the start of a new growing season. 9. Blue Orchard Bee (Osmia lignaria)

Sep 27, 2023 · Ground bees or ground nesting bees are solitary bees that make nests in the ground. Ground bees tunnel into dry soil to create underground nests about 6” (15 cm) long where they raise their young. Despite these solitary bees being beneficial to the ecosystem and biodiversity, many gardeners view ground bees as pests.

5 days ago · Unlike honey bees, these bees are primarily solitary but colonial and gregarious. Each individual female ground-nesting bee builds her own nesting burrow. According to NC State Extension , “During the day, females collect pollen and nectar to carry back to the nest and form a 1/8 to ¼ in diameter “ball” that is placed within a small cell ...

Inviting an array of bees into your own backyard is simple when you plant their favorite flowers. By providing nectar and pollen as food and creating shelters in your garden space, you will create new habitat for bees, which is important, as their natural habitats become less and less abundant.

Apr 1, 2025 · It usually takes about three years for them to fully mature and fill in. In the meantime, enjoy watching your garden evolve, with each season bringing new growth and new pollinator visitors. 9. Support science. Even a small garden can contribute to a larger network of pollinator habitat—and to scientific research.