Posted by blueberrytalk on October 29, 2009
Getting rid of pollen mites is a good way help your Mason bee population grow. The cocoons in the picture are drying after being washed and dipped in a mild beach solution. They will be kept in a secure container to protect them from mice.
Mason bee cocoons
Candling the Mason bee cocoons shows which cocoons are not viable. Most of the cocoons in the batch above show a Mason bee inside in a fetal position. See other posts on Mason bees. http://blueberrytalk.wordpress.com/category/mason-bees/
Candling cocoons
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Posted by blueberrytalk on October 22, 2009
Stunning Pernettya berries are eye catchers in the fall. A similar sight is the riotous color of cranberries!
Pernettya
Cranberry harvest
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Posted by blueberrytalk on October 21, 2009
When we opened up a Mason bee nest we found one tube with the typical leaf covered cocoons of a Leaf cutter bee.
Leaf cutter bee cocoons
Then we found some blueberry leaves with notches that would make one suspect Leaf cutter bees.
blueberry leaves
Check out this video to see the Leaf cutter bees in action.
http://www.archive.org/details/AlexisTancibokLeafCutterBee
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Posted by blueberrytalk on October 16, 2009
Lately, Tobia (15 years old) has been working with pencil watercolor. Her most recent painting is of Stilton, her latest goat purchase.
Stilton
More than one turkey showed up for the Canadian thanksgiving. Tobia made a turkey using needle felting!
Turkey - needle felting
Posted in Tobia's art | 2 Comments »
Posted by blueberrytalk on October 15, 2009
The beautyberry rewards you twice; once when the bees gather pollen (see previous post) and again with a head turning display of purple berries.
beautyberry
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