The Streets of MelbourneNov 27, 2022

#Bees are beautiful don’t you think?

They’re the most productive insect on the planet I reckon. Always at work, pollinating our plants; they carry #pollen between plants of different sexes to fertilise them, which help #plants reproduce.

There are about 1650 #nativebee species in #Australia, they generally do not produce honey – tho there are 20,000 known species worldwide. Extraordinary!

#Honeybees were introduced to Australia from Europe around 200 years ago, they sleep between 5 & 8 hours a day.

Queen honeybees live on average 1–2 years whereas workers live on average 15–38 days in the summer and 150–200 days in the winter.

At the peak of the honey-gathering season, a strong, healthy hive will have a population of approximately 50,000 bees.

A honeybee only produces around a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey… in its whole life.

I had to double check that. But that is indeed correct.

These pics taken at Melbourne’s #BottanicalGarden this weekend 🐝

#bee #bees #urbanflora #flora #gardening #garden #victoria #simplepleasures #godmustbeabotanist

Show threadCarol HedgesNov 28, 2022
@NessaUndreza we grow them on a wall .. #bees
Show threadThe Streets of MelbourneNov 28, 2022
@Riotgrandma72 carol I am so intrigued. What are we looking at here? Is it a home made hive by chance. Or am I waaaay off?? 🤔🤔😊
Show threadCarol Hedges
@NessaUndreza it’s a nest box for solo bees. We have several on a south facing wall. They lay eggs, seal the chambers and then er… die. Last winter I took the boxes inside. In spring we had a kitchen full of tiny tiny bees! Magic! We released them into the garden. Oxfam sells the bee boxes/Amazon too
Nov 28, 2022 at 5:51pmWeb
Show threadThe Streets of MelbourneNov 29, 2022

@Riotgrandma72 wow you. And that’s brill. I didn’t know these things existed, nor the need for ‘non-hive’ nesting. Learn something every day huh!

Good on you for providing homes and a haven for these beautiful creatures 👏👏💖

Show threadCarol HedgesNov 29, 2022
@NessaUndreza we also housed a wasps nest in a climbing hydrangea. I was told to destroy it, but I don’t do that sort of thing. When they abandoned it, and I took it down, this is what I found. Note all the colours,, they chew wood to make the outside. It was the size of a big Chinese lantern.
Show threadThe Streets of MelbourneNov 29, 2022
@Riotgrandma72 how extraordinary! And so cool. I’m glad you didn’t destroy it. If they weren’t causing issues, was a good call to leave them be (bee 🤔🤔🤣🤣)
Show threadHeather RufusNov 29, 2022
@Riotgrandma72 @NessaUndreza they look absolutely gorgeous
Show threadDaveNov 29, 2022
@Riotgrandma72 @NessaUndreza These look fantastic. My two tips are: 1) Try making one yourself if you can (fairly easy to make and the bees don’t care what they look like; 2) Don’t buy anything from Amazon (ever).
Show threadHHNov 29, 2022

@david_orr @Riotgrandma72 @NessaUndreza

2) excellent tip
And @Riotgrandma72 fantastic - did you have to take them inside or would they have been ok outside as they were 'sealed'?

Show threadCarol HedgesNov 29, 2022
@hartsfleurs @david_orr @NessaUndreza it was so cold.. no prob not but I am a softy and their parents worked so hard …
Show threadHHNov 29, 2022
@Riotgrandma72 @david_orr @NessaUndreza
Fairly certain I'd have been covering with blankets and layers so I understand your reasoning 🤗
Show threadCarol HedgesNov 29, 2022
@david_orr @NessaUndreza it was just a thought. Garden centres sell them also x