Last summer I noticed quite an abundance of bumble bees in my yard. I paid close attention to them - followed them and low and behold their "nest" is/was in the ground in my veggie garden. Very industrial those bees are. The entrance was under the tag for my tomato plant, it blocked the rain from pouring into their home.
Now I wonder. Are they hibernating there? I left the tomato plant there that was (I think) part of their home. I don't want to dig them up.
We even had baby bumble bees last summer! My girls had the best time watching the bumbles pollinate our yard. Commenting on their huge "saddle bags" of pollen. It was really a great experience. We then talked to a bee keeper over the summer who provided us with as much information as she had on bumbles. But I didn't think of hibernation.
Aren't bumblebees the best? When my daughter was about three and we wereoout in the garden she spied a bumblebee and went over and reached out to him. I told her to be careful and to not annoy the bee. She turned and looked at me with a face looking like the most pathetic poster child and said "I just want to pet his fur!"
It seems like the bees would hibernate in the ground where their home is. You were brilliant to figure out where they live. aI'd keep an eye on that this spring. I remember reading a book when I was young calloed The City of Bees. My mother gave it too me, and I remember it was all about the bees and there amazing system of pollinating, making their honey etc. I don't know if it is still in print....
Bumble bees
Posted - Jan 25 2009 : 05:54:11 AM
