My first sighting of the Bees feeding this year. I recorded macro video of them feeding and give commentary in the video as the Bees are observed. It was around noon that day and was getting into the 60s. Calm wind and only partly cloudy, though we are expecting rain in the next few days. This fruit tree has a tendency to flower well before the frosts are over. Which usually does not bode well for the flowers. This year we had some snow after they flowered and it made us think it would not produce fruit this year. Usually the buds will get damaged from the 32F temp or below and then fail to start fruit growth. Its a toss up if the tree will produce every year, its probably more suited for South Georgia. Though occasionally I do get fruit, out of the seven or so years ive had it four years it produced fruit. Other years it flowered too early and the frost damaged the flowers. Maybe this year will be different, time will tell.
The Mason Bees have found it and seem to be going at the flowers like nothing ever happened to them in the ice and snow. They move from flower to flower going inside to drink nectar. These Bees just emerged from their cocoons are quite hungry after hibernating for many months. Me and my camera did not bother them and they kept at it while I used my macro lens and stock GH3 to record video and take pictures along the way.
Not sure if these are my Bees that came from the 2x4 home. As they could be anywhere from 300 feet away, that is about how far they will travel to feed on flowers. So they may be my neighbors Bees I know they have little homes for Solitary Bees as well.
While the weather is warm, they will take advantage of the flower blooms and find new buds that are just starting to open. Its still late winter technically, but the Bees are getting a head start on the season. And the Peach tree is there ready to get them started with a drink of nectar.
In the next few days or weeks, the female should be making homes and hope they will pick the ones I made for them. Time will tell, im excited and looking forward to the next 100 days of the Bees lifecycle. And if all goes well, I should have alot of Mason Bee cocoons to harvest from the bee boards I built.
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