Ron wrote about bumblebees

> The bumblebees certainly deserve our respect and care!

You are so right.  I spend a considerable amount of time persuading people 
to leave bumblebee nests that they find in the gardens, often in a compost 
heap, under the garden shed or in a bird box.

During the 1970s and 1980s huge numbers of bumblebees were destroyed in this 
are due to pesticides that were sprayed onto oilseed rape.  As a result, the 
towns became a refuge for them and they are now speading back into the 
countryside as the use of pesticides reduces.

We have many heathers in the front garden (Ericas, as our soil is not acid 
enough for the Callunas) and it is a joy to see the bumblebees on them; on a 
fine day in March I counted  11 queens on the heathers and 7 more resting in 
the sunshine on the south facing wall of the house.  Our rather small rear 
garden is given over to a patio, with herbs planted beyond - thyme, sage, 
lavender, catmint, oregano, etc. - and is alive with insects.  The bumblbees 
work lavender and catmint non-stop.  Of course, they work all hours as they 
have very little stores in the nest and have to forage almost constanly, 
regardless of the weather.

Best wishes

Peter Edwards
[log in to unmask]
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/ 

-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and  other info ---