Above: This weekend, you can build a “living sculpture” to host important (rarely stinging) pollinators (images contributed by The Trustees of Reservations)
Chestnut Hill Farm is hosting a special workshop this weekend. The focus is Orchard Mason Bee nest construction.
Before I get into those details, I want to remind readers about another event on pollinators tonight. A presentation on Pollinator Gardens and butterflies is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Library. (Some of you may have missed that post over spring break!) For details on that free event, click here.
Now, back to this Saturday’s workshop. The event takes place this Saturday, April 30, from 10:00 am – noon (and requires a small fee). Participants should meet at the farm stand.
Farm Manager Desiree Robertson-DuBois describes:
We are going to build some Orchard Mason Bee nests by upcycling some pieces of clean, untreated, wooden construction waste into homes for this fabulous native pollinator. This is a creative exploration in living sculpture! You can bring home your nest and hang it in a south facing, protected place or install it here at Chestnut Hill Farm.
These bees are a wonderful addition to any garden- they rarely sting and don’t do any damage to wooden structures (they can only nest in predrilled holes, they can’t make holes themselves).
We are asking for $9/members and $15 for nonmembers to participate. We will talk about the Orchard Mason Bee and its importance in our ecosystems, and we will supply all the materials for the nests.
