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I always get a real thrill when I find the telltale marks of the leafcutter bee on the leaves of my roses and wisteria. Sometimes I catch them in action, cutting out a circle of leaf, or flying around carrying it. It doesn't bother me to find plants

as payment!!). But that's not all. Yesterday's whole lunch was punctuated by the activities of a very persistent bee, particularly determined to get to the table - not the food on it (or under it), but to one particular piece of timber. I've got used

planted in my children's plots, complete with home-made plant supports. According to my children "when the beans grow they can use the wigwams too", because "you did say that sweet peas help to encourage the bees to pollinate them".The wigwams are both

accessible source of pollen for bees and hoverflies. If left into into winter, the papery brown seed heads look beautiful when covered in dense frost.Apart from the addition of extra grit to my heavy soil, keeping my alliums has been easy. Despite frequent

raspberries which are affected, but also blackberries , logan berries and other hybrid berries  that are at risk. But whatever the crop, only spray at dusk to minimize the risk of damage to bees and other beneficial and pollinating insects.