Where are the honey Bee's?

[Jonny.D]

I planted Borage last year and I'd never seen so many Bee's, particularly Honey Bee's, from first thing in the morning all the way until evening.

This year though, it's mainly been bumble Bee's and very few Honey Bee's.

Anyone else experiencing this?

[Bill HH]

Yes, me, hardly seen any Bee's yet, but niether have I seen and cabbage whites. It could be the general decline in Bee numbers but i suspect its the very cold nights we have had in June, they just stayed in bed.

[bario1]

Plenty of bees of all descriptions up here, my raspberries are covered in them!

[Jonny.D]

Yes, me, hardly seen any Bee's yet, but niether have I seen and cabbage whites. It could be the general decline in Bee numbers but i suspect its the very cold nights we have had in June, they just stayed in bed.

I've not seen many cabbage whites here in Essex either Bill

[Martin H]

On muy plot I didn't see honey bees until the raspberries started flowering, but there have been quite a few since then.

I've just started seeing cabbage whites this last week or so. I think the invasion may be starting.

[1Bee]

Plenty of cabbage whites here, and loads of bumbles, which is nice. Not really noticed any honey bees yet, but haven't been looking.

[Nicos]

Not so many in our trees earlier on in the year.
Not many recently anywhere to be honest.

What was more worrying is that I found 6 wild honey bees slowly crawling along our lounge floor last week.

[alldigging]

They go mad for the poached egg plant on my plot. Can't compare with borage as mine isn't flowering yet!

They've had a tough spring in some areas with the wind blowing all the flowers (&pollen) off the trees.

[sparrow100]

Not many on my plants either, but we do have 5 hives on site so I know they are around. I've been given a jar of spring honey and it was full of pollen - they must have found food more to their liking elsewhere.

My nigella, borage and honeywort has brought in huge numbers of bumbles, and my goodness they are LOUD! I do love watching them wobble about the plot. I don't have much else in flower at the moment, bar the odd squash, a few beans and some tomatoes, so it's slim pickings for them otherwise.

[snakeshack]

I have had plenty especially on the comfrey an the phacelia I grew for green manure.my solitary bee nest has every tube full & I will need to replace some tubes or expand this year ,does anyone know where I can get the lined cardboard tubes?

[Scoot]

Not seen any honey bees this year, the bumble bees are starting to come out in number now though.

[alldigging]

I have had plenty especially on the comfrey an the phacelia I grew for green manure.my solitary bee nest has every tube full & I will need to replace some tubes or expand this year ,does anyone know where I can get the lined cardboard tubes?

Get your old garden canes and cut them into chunks - or find some nice hollow plant stems.
I got an old log and drilled LOADS of holes in it (With the wrong bit apparently)

[mothhawk]

I have had plenty especially on the comfrey an the phacelia I grew for green manure.my solitary bee nest has every tube full & I will need to replace some tubes or expand this year ,does anyone know where I can get the lined cardboard tubes?

Get your old garden canes and cut them into chunks - or find some nice hollow plant stems.
I got an old log and drilled LOADS of holes in it (With the wrong bit apparently)

Not having an old log, I bought one of these last year



It was a bit late on in the season, but several holes were filled, and hatched out this year.
The thing I've noticed is that this year, the first holes to be used were the same ones that were used last year, so evidently the bees are happy to clean them out and re-use.
So maybe you could just try leaving the tubes you've got.

You can get refill tubes here though, as well
Pollinating Bees Tubes | Bumblebees, Bee Houses and Habitats

[mothhawk]

Hey, how come snakeshack's name is under his avatar?

[noviceveggrower]

I have got wild honey bees down the allotment and they have already swarmed this year but still have a few left in their original.
I haven't seen many bumble bees this year but my solitary bee hive has been filled up.
But haven't seen any white butterflies this year or come to think of it many butterflies at all. Plenty of aphids and black fly though.