I like bees, especially bumble bees, which sadly, are now becoming threatened. I heard last night that their numbers are dropping drastically in the North West. But the good thing is that we still have hundreds of bumble bees bumbling around our gardens. 
This hole in the wall under the kitchen window is always a favoured spot for the nesting bumbles. It’s so funny watching the dogs poke their noses into the hole after each bee….one of these days they’ll come a cropper. 
I have made an extra effort this year to make sure I have more wildflowers in the garden. I’ve planted this border especially for the insects and they’re loving it. You always know how successful a border is by the number of insects that visit it….this one teems with insect life. The honeysuckle is about to open, another great favourite of all the bees and butterflies. It’s quite unusual to be stung by a bumble bee. They are slow and gentle compared to their cousins, the honey bee, and only have nests the size of a large orange, producing only enough honey to feed their young. Only the queen and workers have stings, the drones, the smaller males that hatch in midsummer, have no sting at all. Once hatched, the drones leave the nest and live independantly. Their only purpose is to mate with the young queens. 
Bumbles love dandelions and cottage garden plants. The main threat to them is chemicals being used in gardens and on the land, and unlike many bees, they never swarm. Last year, I decided to move the compost heap. I was raking away when suddenly honey bees began to swarm out. Within seconds I couldn’t see anything but bees and the noise was absolutlely deafening. Strangely, I didn’t panic and just let go off the rake, closed my eyes and stood perfectly still. After a few minutes the noise died down and I opened my eyes. My arms and legs were covered in bees and yet not one of them stung me. Eventually they all moved off……and I left their nest and the compost heap alone. 
The compost heap was right down at the back of the “still lawnless” wilderness. I wonder if the grass will ever grow back …..ah well…I did want the dogs!!!
