By: Michael Fox

A beautiful sunny, if chilly, day for our monthly community event at Mt Gravatt Showgrounds prepartiing more area for National Tree Day planting and making backyard bee homes for solitary native bees. Australia has abou 2,000 species of solitary native bees that don’t from hives.

First a home for Burrowers like Blue Banded and Teddy Bear Bees. These bees burrow into the ground to lay their eggs. An alterative home can be created with suitalble mix for the bees to burrow into. Step 1 is mixing the mud to fill the pvc cells. Fflur Collier researched a suitable recipe -2 part bentonite clay (ALDI clay kitty litter with no fragrance) – 5 part brickie loam sand – 1.5 or 2 parts water.

Belinda mixed the mud then handed the mixture to Lim Yu and Fflur who packed the PVC cells before incerting sticks to create starter holes once the mud dries.

Borders like Leaf Cutter Bee and Resin Bees need suitable holes for the females to create nests of rolled up leaf sections to be stocked with nectar and pollen before laying their eggs. Female eggs are laid first before changing to males. Holes need to be 6mm diameter and at least 120mm deep to ensure there is a correct mix of male and female eggs. Avoid the bee homes typically sold by Bunnings which have oversized holes and not enough depth.

Fflur and Lim Yu drilled a small hardwood log while I drilled into an onsite stag (dead tree still providing habitat for birds and insects). Stags are called snags in the US. You may have to visit a specialist shop like Total Tools to source long series drill bits.

Christine and Alex Ibarra worked expanding the area for planting. Step 1 remove grass seed heads, Step 2 is a thick layer of cardboard then covering with 150mm depth of mulch. The cardboard and mulch surpress weed growth while keeping the soil cool and moist improving soil health. Alex also donated a trailer load of used mushroon compost.

Corrine McMillan our local state member visited to learn about our work reforesting the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds.