One day many years ago JoAnn and I were exploring the country-side when we came upon a deserted hippie camp that was a mess. Papers were blowing around with cans and bottles every where. My eye caught a glimpse of a tree stump that someone had been carving on. Anything wooden was of interest to me so we loaded it into the car and it has been traveling with us ever since as we move from home to home. It makes a rather primitive decoration in our bed of vines and crape myrtle bushes.
In contrast, on the other end of this bed of green vines is a cutter bee habitat. The many holes drilled in this heavy timber provide places where bee larva are deposited with a start-up supply of food for the baby bees when they mature and venture forth into the world. I gave the timbers and a number of other pieces of wood to a friend who does interesting, attractive pieces for outside display. He gave us this finished piece.
The cutter bees aren't a stinging bee and are hardly noticed except for the holes they cut in leaves of some plants. They pack the holes around the larva full with this cut material. Our friend workes with this type structure, placing them in the comercial landscape areas he creates. He maintains the bees are benifical to growth in the landscaping.
*More detail can be found on my art at my website <www.apatchablue.com>
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