I usually have a lot of local mason bees buzzing around my garden, but I have not taken the extra step to make/buy a house for them. This year, I have seen a lot fewer bees, I definitely plan on doing something about it, whether drilling holes in some old logs or making/buying some reed houses.

I bought some a few years back and made a house for them, but they did not take up residence. I assume they died, and this is probably typical for mail order insects I'm guessing. But I've never had a lack of pollinators, being in a relatively rural place where pesticides are rare (because there is not much agriculture).

Anyway, I think providing habitat and housing is easy and cheap, so attracting the natives is probably more efficient than trying to introduce them. Find out which species you have in the area, what their favorite flowers are and their preferred housing, and provide those things.

In past years I've had a ton of blossoms from the ice plants in my yard and the bees seem to love them. THey haven't bloomed yet. I will need to find an alternate flower for next year to entice them into the yard.

My brother gave me a kit from Crown Bees for Christmas this past year and my mason bee cocoons arrived earlier this week. I'll try and remember to post updates if I see evidence of increased pollination on my blueberry plants. I hope they stay around my yard and live in the bee house!

The kit also comes with a coupon for leafcutter bee cocoons, which will be arriving in June to pollinate the summer vegetables and flowers.

Of my trees that attract bees, apple and orange, there have been plenty bees to go around. My avocado and other stone fruit have been attracting other pollinators and the bees stay away from them. I'd imagine a non honey bee would still have pollen preferences and not be a guaranteed pollinator for some varieties.

Seems my habitat is still pretty well intact out in the country when planting a orchard over 20 years ago....had no problem with pollination, [no honey bees around]...but, jus as a hobby I put in several honey bee hives...I didn't see any difference. We should be focusing more on our native bees....less on the honeybees.

For mason bees be sure to put a wire mesh at the house entry if you have woodpeckers.