Small Stems, Big Help

Some small bees make nests inside hollow plant stems. A hollow stem has an empty space inside. These bees usually live alone instead of in a large group. A garden can have plenty of flowers but few nest spaces if people remove every old stem.

We can help by leaving a small patch of old stems standing. A garden sign could have the heading “Homes in Stems.” Under that heading, visitors could learn why these plain brown stalks matter.

Stems of different widths provide spaces for different kinds of bees. Some bees need narrow spaces, while others need wider ones. Keeping several sizes gives more kinds of bees a place to nest.

It also helps to leave stems in place through winter. Young bees may be developing inside, even when a stem looks empty. Removing it too soon can carry away the bees along with their home. The quiet stems may be much busier than they look.

Flowers near the stems help, too. Bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers for food. Nearby flowers mean shorter trips between the nest and the food. A sheltered patch, protected from strong wind, can make landing on the stems easier.

The garden sign could also show a photo of a bee at a stem opening. Its caption might read, “A small doorway to a bee’s home.” Leaving some old stems and growing flowers nearby turns one corner of a garden into a useful home for small bees.