Not everything in our Wildlife Garden goes to plan. We had planted a musk rose (Rosa moschata) to give scented, single flowers around a seat. Bees love single flowers and the birds eat the hips. However, it has been slow to grow and has no flowers. But I had noticed there were bits taken from the leaves.

I suspected the culprit, but on Sunday got the evidence while I was working in the garden - Leaf-cutter Bees were making their nests in one of the logs.

This is the evidence seen today - the bits of rose leaf neatly rolled and placed in the log, but I did not see a bee this time.

Close inspection showed several other insects - many good for the garden - also using cracks in this and other logs.

Well worth a look but for the time being it is best not to use the logs as seats! Someone with a good camera may even be able to get a good shot of a bee for us.

Peter

Parents
  • Thanks for the comment Rachel. The garden is only 5 years old and the rose only 2. The logs are slowly rotting and these changes bring in new wildlife, but I did see the telltale signs on the leaves last year.

    I, and other volunteers and staff, do not usually carry a camera when working and can easily miss the chance for a good shot. So we love to have photos sent to us or posted on the forum.

Comment
  • Thanks for the comment Rachel. The garden is only 5 years old and the rose only 2. The logs are slowly rotting and these changes bring in new wildlife, but I did see the telltale signs on the leaves last year.

    I, and other volunteers and staff, do not usually carry a camera when working and can easily miss the chance for a good shot. So we love to have photos sent to us or posted on the forum.

Children
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