May 29, 2017, 4:46 p.m.

Mason Bees Part 2

It has been two months and my heart is splintering by the hour. The thing about my new kiddies is that they have a very short life span - in the order of 5 weeks or so. Mine have almost all died by now. They have made some great progress towards continuing their kind though - I have many cells filled with pollen, eggs and partitioned off by mud.

Mason bee waiting on condo to heat up
Mason bee waiting on condo to heat up
Mason bee waiting inside as it was a cold day
Mason bee waiting inside as it was a cold day
Another Mason bee waiting on condo to warm up
Another Mason bee waiting on condo to warm up
Condo partially filled up with nests
Condo partially filled up with nests
Mason bee covered in pollen feeding on bluebells
Mason bee covered in pollen feeding on bluebells
Mason bees drill deep
Mason bees drill deep
Mason bee collecting pollen from her body to carry under her abdomen back to the nest
Mason bee collecting pollen from her body to carry under her abdomen back to the nest
Mason bee's abdomen covered in pollen - they are messy!
Mason bee's abdomen covered in pollen - they are messy!
One cell that has been closed off with mud is still wet
One cell that has been closed off with mud is still wet
Mason bee nearing end of her life, so tired :(
Mason bee nearing end of her life, so tired :(
Wide angle view of above. She is the last of her kind!
Wide angle view of above. She is the last of her kind!
Knowing death is around the corner is so sad...
Knowing death is around the corner is so sad...