I had bird netting on my blueberries and the smaller bees had no problems...The big fat bees had a bit of a issue squishing their big butts through it however!!! -cass

Wait. If you have flowers and bees I am sure you will get beans. The first flowers often drop off but then suddenly you will notice tiny embryonic beans just when you have given up. For only 6 plants they're not really taking up much space so give them a chance. BTW 6 is not going to be enough for you to get more than 1 or 2 pickings. I grow rows of about 24 plants in succession - about 5 rows in all. For four people.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Idyll Mothers... (including those with furry babies! :-) I had a special message I wanted to give to you all...but I ran out of time and now I have to get to bed...it's been a long day. Just wanted to tell Drema how sorry I was to hear about the loss of your brother. From spending those few days with you at the Idyllunion, I could tell you are a warm, genuine and joyful person Drema...sounds like your brother was too. I'm glad for you and your whole family that things worked out the way they did and that your brother's last days were spent spending time with the people he loved and doing the things that made him happy. And congratulations on grandbaby Nina Marie! Look forward to pics! :-) Wow...such beautiful pics from everyone! Kathy...thanks....your W.S.2000 is gorgeous! I'd be embarrassed to show you mine...LOL! Sue...thanks for stirring up happy memories! It was so fun meeting and having you all here...I loved having you...even if my personal life was a little crazy at the time...you guys were a *wonderful* distraction! :-) Paul enjoyed all of you too! Thanks too for the G.S. pic....Your G.S. is so pretty and what a great combination of color and texture...love your fountain too! Deanne....gorgeous pics! I agree that tulip pic is intriguing (and *beautiful) can I get you here to photog my tulips? LOL! Beautiful pics Bug! I especially love the shots from the window and the one with the kitty is just *so* mesmerizing and soothing too! Cynthia...that Duranta *is* gorgeous! I'm going to have to look for that. I still remember all your beautiful pics of your garden and grassy paths that I so admired. And I've always loved the pics of your black wicker and your agaves too. Which reminded me, when I bought the wrong mag issue looking for Deanne and I saw the front cover it kind of reminded me of your lovely vignette, which I think they should consider for their next cover! :-) Well, there are so many first rate gardeners in this group that I think any one of you could be/should be featured on the cover of a garden magazine! Well, I need to get to bed now...got a busy day tomorrow. I have to meet up with an ex-boss. She is the owner of a garden design company I worked for many years ago and says she has "she has a good offer for me that she thinks I would be pleased about and to call her." She called me the first time a few weeks ago, but I didn't call her back. But, since she called again, I figured she must be serious and it can't hurt to see what she is offering. Looking for a job (at least for me) has been very disheartening, so I have to admit, it feels good to think someone wants me...LOL!

The photos show healthy looking plants. They do not get bushy really as they put up a few stems stems and don't branch. The black bits look normal but then you would expect an embryonic bean to appear from the shrivelled bits. My vegetable book suggests dryness and spasmodic watering as reasons for blossom drop in beans. Heat might also be aproblem or possibly lack of bees.