So few bees.

[cheops]

We have all read for some years now that bees are in decline. For years now I have tried to help and do my bit by almost every flower and plant I have chosen to grow in my garden is there because it is good for our bees. I have a huge front bed with over 50 huge flowering alliums towering over masses of flowering lupins. In my main garden flowering at the moment are more alliums, borage, chives and many more. Yet I see so few bees - seldom more than two or three bees at any one time. This is the first year where personally I can see a dramatic decline in the bee population. Obviously the awful spring we all had hasn’t helped but is everyone else now visibly seeing this decline. It’s so sad - I don’t know what more I can do.

[veggiechicken]

Its the opposite here. I've been seeing more bees this year than last - including lots of honey bees which is pleasing me no end.
The fruit bushes, white comfrey and foxgloves have been their favourites recently.

[cheops]

I’m so glad to hear that Veggie -perhaps this is just a particuliary bad year for bees in my area.

[veggiechicken]

I hope so, cheops.
Last year, I felt as you do, that bees were visibly on the decline - but this year, so much better.

[Guest]

I don't seem to have as many bees this year. Silly question is there a large area of anything near you to draw them away? As hard as bees work they will pick quantity over quality.

[Mr Bones]

Loads of them, especially on the plot but we do have lots of flowers for them and also hotels for the solitary bees (which have almost finished now for this season).

[jackarmy]

Me too, marked increase in the garden ( considering its mainly paved so its just the borders and pots ) and the comfrey at the plot is literally swarming with them .

[ESBkevin]

The long late winter meant that some of our fruit tree blossom went without insect pollination, apples in particular. Could it be that the uncultivated bees are suffering and the cultivated bees have not been placed in your area?
The last two weeks has seen a good continual selection of bees around my early raspberry bush in the back garden. Otherwise the general lateness of flowers might account for something.

[Thelma Sanders]

Its the opposite here. I've been seeing more bees this year than last - including lots of honey bees which is pleasing me no end.

The same here, right now on foxgloves, early flowering poppies and geranium Biokovo

[cheops]

I don't seem to have as many bees this year. Silly question is there a large area of anything near you to draw them away? As hard as bees work they will pick quantity over quality.

I would be confident I have provided ‘Bee heaven’ compared to everywhere else near to me. I walk my lab a lot and on my walks I also see few bees through areas of wild vetch and May blossom which should be buzzing. Such a difference to last year - Susie my lab last year used to park herself beside the lupins at my back door so she could snap at them when they arrived [never could stop her doing this’]. This year she hasn’t gone near the lupins.
Lots of interesting replies - thanks everyone.