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Forsythia Might be a Nectar Source

Diane DeYoung
23 April 1998

I read your plant list and I don't think that you mentioned forsythia. My male orchard mason bees seem to time their emergence to precisely when my large forsythia comes into bloom. The females seem to know when the apple tree is in bloom. I also have lots of Peris japonica in the yard.

The males really love the forsythia though - it must have a lot of nectar and it get the afternoon sun as well - they like the heat.

I started with 3 plugged holes from Brian Knox and I have read both his books. I now have over 120 holes in wood blocks last year, and this year have switched to the the paper tubes.