18 birdsandblooms.com SEPTEMBER EXTRA 2020
Open Vacancy
ESSENTIALS
Cavities
attract
hibernating
carpenter
bees.
Sticksandlogs
helpladybugs,
sincethey
spendwinter
underneath
thepieces.
Strawand
pinecones
hostbeneficial
hoverflies.
K.-U. HAESSLER/SHUTTERSTOCK
Chunksof
woodwith
drilledholes
are idealfor
overwintering
masonand
leafcutter
bees.
Look for these qualities when you buy or build a bug hotel.
Bark shreds
provide a
home for
beetles,
spiders and
millipedes.
Theframeshould
bemadeoutof
naturalorrecycled
components.
PRIME REAL ESTATE
Place your hotel on a post or tree about
3 to 6 feet off the ground, preferably
facing the south or southeast. This keeps
the hotel warm on chilly days, allowing
bees and other pollinators to go about
their business.
A sturdy roof will
keep the materials
mostly dry.