Sweet Peas and Bees - not connected...

[Iamtheoneinten]

Firstly, can I plant sweet pea seeds straight out in to a large container (already has a frame) or do they have to be started as seedlings in a greenhouse/inside first?

Secondly, I've found four dying Bumblebees in my garden in the last two days. Very lethargic and stumbly - I thought initially it was just that they'd only just emerged, but I found them afterwards, very much dead (separate incidents). Is this likely to be because someone nearby has weed sprayed the dandelions (or some other early flowerer) and they've been on them? If not, any other ideas, I'm a bit upset about it as I'm trying to make the garden as insect friendly as possible.

Yes to the sweet peas, my DP always plants his direct and they can be superb - much better than the ones I’ve faffed over!

I’m afraid I don’t know re bumblebees…do you own a pet? A dog or cat maybe? Or a neighbourhood cat visited? My stupid dog snaps at bees and occasionally kills them and so did an aunt’s Tom cat years ago.

Thank you, good to know re the sweet peas, will give it a go I think as no access to starting them inside.
As for the bees, currently no cats or dogs of ours on our land. Lots of neighbouring cats though, and we definitely have foxes, hedgehogs, rats etc - it’s a big bit of land - these bees haven’t had injuries, they’re fully in tact (I’ve a good close up look at them) they’re just lethargic and then boom; dead. If they be likely been subject to external chemicals and there’s nothing I can do, then ok but if it’s something else that I could help with before they shrug off their mortal coil then I’d like to know - if anyone has any ideas?

Some bees don't live long (I think the longest is 2 years the shortest about 35 days) so you may have just come across them at the end of their natural lives.

If you're friendly with neighbours, do try to drop a hint about not using pesticides. A bit of a losing battle, however, as most people seem oblivious to the impending doom and oblivious to the fact that we rely upon insects for our own existence.

I think in dodgy weather some bees can't find enough food and simply run out of energy. You may be able to revive lethargic bees with sugar water - not sure exactly how, I've not noticed any when I've been at home.

I found a tired bedraggled bumblebee near my front door a few weeks ago. It was cold, drizzly and windy. I put it in a box with some honey mixed with a little water in a jam jar lid - bee drank it and after 10 minutes started bumbling and buzzing around - I opened the box and he flew right up high into the sky.

So, next time, give them a little drink.

So, next time, give them a little drink.

Not of honey, though - it can spread diseases. Sugar water if possible; otherwise just plain water. And a bit of warmth.

If it's cold windy weather, I expect the bees are constantly battling to fly anywhere and are exhausted. The flowers they rely on might also be late blooming. Leave dandelions to flower for them and remove once they start to go to seed.

You can buy a key ring with a tiny bee revival kit on it. It's like bee first aid.

A word on reviving bumblebees: the advice from the bumblebee conservation trust is that sugar water should be a last resort- the best thing is always to move a bee to a suitable flower: more info here More detailed info here. as you’ll see they definitely suggest avoiding feeding honey.

However I would agree that this could either be a) end of natural life and just bad luck or b) pesticides being used locally. Bees are often short lived so there may be nothing nefarious.

btw they are a fab organisation if you are a bumblebee fan: lots of great info on planting/gardening for bumbles :-)

oh and sweet peas planted direct out is fine: they tend to flower later ofc but otherwise fine :-)

I also found this: sounds like having lots of dead bumbles around is probably just a sign you have lots of live bumblebees locally as they often die near their nest sites. So it may be proof you are doing things right :-)

Oh I didn't realise honey was a bad thing to give bees - it seemed like the ideal thing to perk them up.

I'll know next time - thanks!

You can buy a key ring with a tiny bee revival kit on it. It's like bee first aid.

This is the cutest thing ever @HazelTheGreenWitch !

Ok lots of good points. I did try to revive one with sugar water but it was too far gone. Two others I put on flowers but to no avail and one expired before my eyes 😔. I’m clinging on to the fact it might just be that I have a lot of bees, I’ve certainly planted everything with pollinators in mind for the last few years, and I do have a lot of wildlife and insect life here so 🤞.

The cold and wind (if your weather is like what I'm having at the moment) can't be ideal for them.

Temperature has gone up here but yes, it has been extremely windy the last few days. Maybe it exhausted them. Just spending another planting and I am seeing a fair few happily flying around though so 🤞