Interactive Wooden Bee House - Pollinator Bee Management System

We haven't seen any bees yet, but I am very excited to have bees come to the house.

I wrote before that I really liked this masons new home, but the bees rather flew to the old ones that are not even closer to this one, that sits in the middle of the best food around. They came but never entered, tried a couple of times and couldn't make it in so that was that. I was going to try and enlarge the openings but I didn't want to started now. So they went back inside, and as I was taking them apart it occurred to me that if did a bit of upside down maybe it will work. I took them apart, I made sure everything was clean and then one went up and the next came down. I took it back outside and the ones that didn't bothered since it is right next to their favorite plums, started to get closer, and even a male came about. I left to get something done on the raised beds where the others are, and they were happy going in and out. By the time I got back to the new house a handful of them were going from the flowers to the new house. Our masons are rather bigger than the ones I grew up with, I don't know why, but they need a bigger place. Since I am sure no one is going to understand what I am talking about I got a couple of photos and I think I will leave it like that from now on. For as long as my bees are happy, there is no reason to do anything.

So, of course I took it apart and measured all the holes. I had my son carve a few of them deeper to approach 5" when they were shallow. I do wish the overall footprint was a bit larger to make them 5+ inches readily. Also, the top row of holes (the 'penthouse') cannot be opened (I anticipated this, no issue there) but they were only about 2 1/2" deep. This may be due to roof hardware. My son tried to drill them deeper with only partial success. I guess those will produce only males.I added silicone to the small screws exposed on the roof that attach the roof to the angled roof supports.Anyway, none of that seems to matter to the bees. You can see we slung the nesting box below using rubber bands on the wingnuts, and we have had action by both mason and leaf-cutter bees!As new bee-tenders (not much 'keeping' needed) I like the option of being able to check on the health of the cocoons and possibly (some day) cleaning and wintering them inside. Although in my climate, that shouldn't be necessary; I will probably let them go through winter outside in their semi-protected spot and see how it goes without much intervention the first year.The design is very attractive. The copper atop the peak is adorable as well as functional. It is easy to unscrew the wingnuts to separate the 'floors'. Overall I think this house was a good choice with the flexibility to be as involved as we want to be.

Amazing product. I bought this product after discovering burrowing holes in my new apartment's balcony. My solution was to offer an alternative. I placed the bee house on my balcony in september thinking some individuals may hibernate there. There hasn't been activity until this following spring and now is very busy.

Like how it comes apart. Right out of the box I soaked with boiled linseed oil (except actual cells). Will fill screw holes with bees wax. As with all my birdhouses, roofs need extra care especially when south facing. I have all different types of houses, most with straws. Ordered another similar house. Will see how it compares. Total organic gardening. Place all boxes in mesh bags on porch when muddied over so critters don’t get them. Will open early fall to remove and clean cocoons and store in garage fridge. This house will make it easier than the straws

I searched and researched a house for mason bees that wasn't the type of house you find at big box stores and garden centers. This house fit the bill. Bees houses can end up getting mites in them which will make the bees pass away. This one can be taken apart and cleaned each year. You can see all of the bee pollen they bring in. Awesome house for mason and solitary bees. I updated my review to a 3 because now that it's time to take the beehouse apart and clean it harvest the cocoons for the winter and eliminate mites, parasites and fly eggs, there is ZERO day to get to the top row. CLOSE THE TOP ROW OFF if you're going to clean your units (which you're supposed to do) because there's no way to get those holes cleaned.

I normally research things before I buy them, but I bought a really cute mason bee house at Home Depot. When I got home and decided to read up on them , I discovered that it was neither safe nor practical for the bees and their offspring. The depth of the box needs to be 6 inches not three to protect them. So I returned the house and bought this real one on Amazon. It’s the correct depth , well made and comes apart for cleaning. The other one was more of a bird buffet. I want the mason bees for my garden.