I've read various sources that Mason bees are the better pollinator due to: 1) They are sloppier with the pollen they collect in hairs on their lower abdomens which drops directly onto the middle of the flower when they land. Whereas honey bees pack it neatly into baskets near their hindquarters. 2) They fly during drearier weather. 3) They do not fixate on alternate pollen sources. 4) The visit more flowers per hours. I can vouch for #1. #2 I think is overstated. My observations is Mason Bees stay "indoors" on cool or wet days as much as Honey Bees do. #3 and #4 I don't know. What I will say for sure is that keeping mason bees would be easier than honey bees. Smaller numbers, no stings, no diseases or parasites to worry about. No swarms, no neighbor issues, no big hive messes. However, Mason Bees where I live don't even hatch out of their cocoons until *after* the plums blossom and generally after (or late into) the sweet cherry bloom. For apples the timing is great, hatching in early April and remaining active thru the end of May. Also, when your Mason Bees hatch out, if there isn't sufficient flower forage in the area, Mason Bees have no choice but to abandon the area. I doubt I need the Mason Bees but they are a fun activity. When my plums are blooming and there aren't any bees around, when I walk up to those trees I can see various insect activity throughout. Flies and gnats and such... I guess.

yes, it is very possible. In fact alot of people do just that. Your bees may die out but in a good swarm year a swarm will move back in and replenish the hive. The problem that you will have in your area is africanized bees, which wave invaded Florida. You will need to become some what of a beekeeper to handle them and make sure that you don't create a safe haven for dangerous bees.

the honeybees will work the buckwheat in the morning. it is a good nectar source.

Last year I got to see a Compton Tortiseshell here it CT. It was on a butterfly field trip and it was a target species for the day. Well, we searched for a hour and saw none and right by my car, as we were leaving, one showed up. It was awesome! I'd love to see a Milbert's.