Bees everywhere!

[dkenagy]

This is mostly a celebration post! My little garden (okay, it's 1/4 acre) is doing fabulously. I'm having a little issue with the thrushes eating every tomato that turns red ( but, other than that, we are absolutely swimming in cucumbers (slicing, pickling, and English);, crook-neck, butternut, and zucchini squash; poblano and sweet bell peppers; and grape, roma, and heirloom tomatoes! My blue lake beans and field peas are coming along nicely, and I have my first watermelon about the size of a tennis ball... honey dew and cantalope aren't far behind!
I've noticed that there are a lot more bees around this year than in years past and I wonder if that's why my garden has been so productive so quickly. I also wonder if someone around here is keeping bees (I don't know of anyone) or if our natural population is rising?
I spent my first awake hour in the garden this morning, harvesting fresh goodies for friends... what a happy way to start the day!

[Rachel J.]

I've noticed more bees around this year, too. Don't know if someone nearby has set up bees or not but I'd be grateful if they did. When I was growing up a bee keeper kept some hives in the woods near our house and it gave us unbelievable raspberry crops.

[SamGroom]

speaking of bees are there ways to attract more that anyone knows of?

[Hibou]

Just plant lots of flowers! We have swaths of bachelor's button, sunflower and borage. In the summer, it's just buzzing!