Down at Summerhouse65 we always try to help out the environment whenever possible by providing houses and gorgeous flowers for the birds and bees. This year we have successfully hatched and fledged two families of blue tits and one of starlings. The sparrows are continually breeding so we have lost count of how many babies are living under the eaves of the house.
Today while doing a bit of a summer clean at Summerhouse65, I found that an insect had used a leaf to close the door of its tube in the bug house. It had made a perfect semicircle in one of the rose leaves. After a bit of research, I think that this is all down to the solitary patchwork leaf cutter bee.
The bug house is in an ideal spot under the eaves of the summerhouse and is home to all sorts of insects that shut themselves away for weeks on end. My dad made it for me out of bamboo from his garden so it is a lovely reminder of him and his creative skills. He was always making and inventing something and he would be thrilled that bees have taken up residence.
What a clever daughter, she's done a great job!
Its a very new blog - started in the summer when my daughter made me a website so she could practise setting one up. The garden is a beautiful haven, full of wildlife, flowers and produce. It is not always easy to stand and stare though as there is always a chore or three to do! However, the best time is when friends come and we always manage to enjoy a glass or two of wine. Friends always expect to be outside in the garden unless it is raining or too cold (we do have plenty of blankets to throw over guests as the evenings chill!)
The 'stumbling' was when I was randomly googling 100 Hearts to see what other people had made, and yours came up with a link to your website. I haven't come across your blog before - is it new? Or have you 'migrated' from somewhere else? It's lovely, very peaceful and restful. Your garden looks like the perfect place to relax with a glass of chilled wine.
Thank you for your kind words Jane. It is always very exciting to hear those words - I just stumbled across your blog!
Leaf cutter bees are so tenacious and dextrous, they certainly deserve to survive the winter. I hope yours do too.
I watched a leaf-cutter bee struggling to post a rolled-up leaf into a tiny hole in my brick wall. Tiny bee, huge leaf, and success in the end. I just stumbled across your blog - what lovely images and textile work.
Jane