Lainey,

I have a bazillion carpenter bees also (w/ no issues of stinging, etc) as well as wasps, etc, etc.

I have honeybees but realized to my horror that they were on my clover in the lawn as I was finishing mowing it down. UGH. If I would have paid attention and seen that, I would have left the clover!!!

I'm going to let it regrow in the lawn and see if they come back. Little fuzzy fellas...

It must be where you live,Lainey. There are no shortage of all kinds of bees here. I see them all the time. Phil

My garden is, as usual, filled with bees of every description, from small brown fuzzy ones I call "microbees" to great big thumb-sized ones I call "thumblebees" and every size and description in between. My garden is prime bee habitat, with all kinds of flowers to get nectar from, plenty of cover (perhaps a bit too densely planted) and plenty of debris in winter for solitary bees to nest in. I've never had any trouble with any of the bees of any size--they just buzz on, visiting flower after flower and moving out of the way of the big human (me).

Lisa

I have bees too, of every variety... but I do think there are fewer than in the past. Andrea, I've also noticed them on the clover in my lawn.

I got stung by a tiny bee Wednesday, it was larger than a sweat bee and fuzzy like a bumble, but wee small... Anyway, amidst all the cursing (because man, that hurts) I got all sad because I knew the bee was sure to die after stinging me. It was so small and cute and doomed. It packed quite a punch for a small guy. My ankle swelled up like crazy.

By the way, it was the first time I'd been stung in years. I was on my knees painting a bench and went to sit back on my heels. The bee was resting on the back of my leg and stung me so as not to be squashed. Can't say that I blame the thing...

As one who IS allergic to them, I've studied them quite a bit -- and ants, too, who use the same chemical base for their stings. Not all bees die after a sting -- in fact, MOST don't. It's specifically the honey bee that has a barb on the stinger; they will die because the stinger is basically ripped out.

Bumblebees, wasps and many others have smooth stingers.

No, I don't kill them just because I'm allergic -- I understand their worth.

Indyrose

Lainey the bees are all at my house. The lawn is about 50% clover as is the rest of the acreage surrounding the garden. Come over and I'll send some home with you :>)

I love watching the bees pollinate the hosta blooms and the stand off between a bee and a hummingbird waiting for a sip from the same plant.

I wish I could come and get some of your bees. I need them badly. I know tomatoes are self-pollinating but they do it so much better when they have bees to vibrate the blossoms. Besides, I miss the little critters. The garden looks so much more friendly and industrious when there are bees around. Perhaps I should invest in my own beehive. Wow! the neighbors would REALLY climb the walls if I did.

Lainey

Take out the remaining grass you have and plant clover, they will come.

You know, I just might do that. Who needs grass anyway? Certainly not me. My husband won't mow it, the neighbor gripes that it's too long. I look at it and think what a waste of good gardening space. I've got a good mind to just plant it all up in hostas and daylilies with a little clover path for the bees.

Lainey

Carpenter bees are misunderstood which is derived out of fear more than anything else. I wouldn't call the males aggressive, just curious but with that fat body and the noise of their wings I can see why someone would say that. Still they do damage and there are non chemical ways to deal with them if you must.
http://pestcemetery.com/carpenter-bees/ might help somewhat. As far as 'where the bees are going' that is very alarming. Too many people are rushing to the 'blame pesticide' side of things but that may not be the whole answer or even a small percentage. For more good information check out this quick article. http://pestcemetery.com/bees/ If scientist can figure it out, it'll be better for all of us.

Here is a link that might be useful: Where have all the bees gone

A female scientist on National Public Radio stated last week that some of the pesticides used in crop dusting make the bees lose their orientation so they can't find their way back to the hives. She is one of the primary scientists studying this. She said they don't know where the lost bees go, but probably many of them die of the cold nights being exposed to the weather outside the hive.

Yes there are mites and pests and those have taken a toll too, but she said that does not explain why a colony of worker bees leave the hive in the morning and never come back home.

Today I say my first honey bee of the season. She was alone as far as I could tell, but I was glad to see her among my roses, since last year I did not see my first honeybee until August. I have seen no bumblebees this year, and very few carpenter bees, but it's been very cold here so the bumbles may be staying in their nests until it warms up.

You can pollinate your tomato plants by simply giving them a jiggle/shake everyday. It is easier than using a toothbrush.

-Babka

I'm in Northern Virginia (NoVa, 30 miles west of Washington, DC.)

Here, the carpenter bees are at their usual levels but I have seen only one bumblebee and I think MAYBE one honeybee.