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Post by NellyDee on Oct 15, 2019 12:10:32 GMT
I don't really know what to do that could help. We planted 6 sunflowers which bloomed very late. These attracted insects and bees (they were the only flowers standing up to the constant rain) I was quite pleased when I saw the bees snuggle in between the seeds, out of the rain. We were about to cut off the seed heads to let them dry out and put on the bird tables and i find that the bees are still nestled in amid the seeds - they are alive. Hope they are not actually nesting there, but what to do? just leave the sunflowers where they are or put the seed heads in the dry but outside maybe in the wood shed.
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Post by rowanberry on Oct 15, 2019 13:22:10 GMT
I think put them someplace dry, but where the bees can still fly out whenever they warm up enough, (if that's possible?)
Several summers ago when we lived in our previous house we only had a courtyard and I grew sunflowers in pots. The bees loved them, but one day an unexpected late afternoon shower took them by surprise... the temperature dropped and it started to get dark but there were still bees huddled on the flowers.
I was able to gently push them into a jar, dropped a few small flower blossoms into the jar with them and covered the mouth with some fabric mesh. The next morning they were all buzzing around, fully recovered and I released them.
I've just had a look at my radar map- I can see you've got rain coming tomorrow but it's sunny at the moment up in Scotland- could you cut the sunflower heads and put them in a sunny location now? (if you see this in time today!) I think if they get cold and damp they can't navigate back to the hive, and they need to warm up a bit.
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Post by NellyDee on Oct 16, 2019 8:33:18 GMT
My gardener is cutting the heads off today and putting them in his poly tunnel - he grows all sorts of plants and veg, so they should by ok in there - a bit warmer than outside and whenever there is a bit of warmth he opens the doors, front and back, up. There is also gaps above the doors.
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