Bring the Buzz to Your Garden

The Blue Orchard Mason Bee (Osmia lignaria) is a gentle, native pollinator found throughout much of British Columbia.

These small, metallic-blue bees emerge in early spring just as fruit trees and early flowers begin to bloom. Because of their timing, they are incredibly important pollinators for backyard gardens and orchards.

Unlike honeybees, mason bees are solitary and do not live in hives. Each female builds her own nest in small holes or tubes, gathering pollen and nectar to feed her young. She then seals each chamber with mud (giving mason bees their name).

Despite being solitary, they are very friendly and rarely sting, making them a wonderful addition to any yard or garden.

Blue Orchard Mason Bees are also incredibly efficient pollinators. As they visit flowers, pollen sticks to the hairs on the underside of their abdomen and easily transfers from blossom to blossom. A single mason bee will visit between 1,600 to 2,400 blossoms daily, a small number of mason bees can pollinate an entire backyard orchard.

By providing nesting houses, a nearby mud source, and early-blooming flowers, you can help support these amazing native pollinators while improving the health and productivity of your garden.

Welcoming mason bees is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to support pollinators right in your own backyard.