My neighbor used to - when I was in high school.

You have to make sure the hives are shaded in summer, and that they have a close supply of water.

Is it worth the dollars to buy / build a mason bee home? Chandler area.

Trying to enhance the bee population around the area for my winter/fall garden.

I have the occasional solitary ground bee. I have a strange looking blue winged insect. Will try to get a picture to try to ID.

It's a bit hot here for the classic "blue orchard bee", but you can encourage leafcutter bees easily by placing blocks of wood with 3/8 inch holes bored into them OR if you can find some fat soda straws of 3/8 inch diameter, just put up a cluster of them.

We have a lot of "alkali bees" in my neighborhood - they make nest holes in the dirt. Some commercial pepper growers encourage them by creating large patches of appropriate dirt near the pepper fields.

They are very efficient pollinators because the are "buzz pollinators", active longer than honeybees, and heat tolerant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzz_pollination

Here is a link that might be useful: Making hives for solitaries

Is this a Wasp? Ant? or ??

Please advise....

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.206436749405960.46848.100001189107482

azbookworm - I cant see the pictures.

Maybe you need to make the set open to the public?

Sorry.... had trouble trying to get picture to work. I will have to try again later today. Thanks

Found it!! "Steel-blue Cricket Hunter"

Thanks for your help!