The Nayfield Preserve has a large meadow restoration that is alive with flowers from June until autumn.
Mason Bees are tunnel-nesting solitary pollinators found here, and they typically use mud or clay to seal the openings of their homes. (140 species in US)
Bee hotels are the insect equivalent of a birdhouse. These wooden structures provide nesting habitat for various species of solitary bees. These species make their homes in holes in dead wood, hollow plant stems, or other nooks and crannies. Bee hotels mimic these natural nesting sites, providing shelter and protection.
Mason bees are excellent pollinators – they're fuzzier than honey bees, so they tend to spread more pollen from flower to flower as they forage. Additionally, they are not as efficient at carrying their pollen as honey bees are, which means they have to visit more flowers, more frequently.
Another difference between mason bees and honey bees is in their defense mechanisms. Mason bees rarely sting, and if they do, their stingers lack venom (unlike honey bees). The sting's discomfort is comparable to that of a mosquito bite.
Lots of info online to build or buy your own hotel. Never see a bee hotel? This is the cache for you, and fear not, these guys are gentle and very useful, not to mention cute.