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Idea for growing den for melissophobic son...

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  • #1

    Idea for growing den for melissophobic son...

    (That's fear of bees, folks )

    We've had several years of making a bean tee-pee for my eldest on the plot, and he loves it... right up until the flowers open and the thing becomes a magnet for bees. He likes and respects bees, but can't stand them close to him, and the constant buzzing puts him on edge and makes it impossible for him to enjoy his den.

    So I'd still like to make a space for him to hide and play on the plot, and it would be great if it incorporated something growing. But what can we use that won't attract the buzzing things?

    Any ideas/designs gratefully received!
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  • #2
    Squash or gourds. You can either pinch the flowers out when he is about or bag/glue/rubber band the flowers and pollinate them yourself.

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    • #3
      I wondered about climbing squash too, but some have prickly leaves.

      Would you consider making a den out of hay bales and then training plants over it, meaning any flowers would be on the outside. The hay could then be used as mulch at the end of the season.

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      • #4
        I don't recall ever seeing bees on my achocha, which will grow to cover a teepee pretty easily, and produce a crop. It does flower, but the flowers are tiny, and I don't know what pollinates them.
        My spiffy new lottie blog

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Snoop Puss View Post
          I wondered about climbing squash too, but some have prickly leaves.

          Would you consider making a den out of hay bales and then training plants over it, meaning any flowers would be on the outside. The hay could then be used as mulch at the end of the season.
          I grew birdhouse bottle gourd which has lovely soft leaves and it produces white flowers which attract moths for pollinating so even better no bee issues. Might be worth looking into the dudhi squash family.

          Originally posted by hamamelis View Post
          I don't recall ever seeing bees on my achocha, which will grow to cover a teepee pretty easily, and produce a crop. It does flower, but the flowers are tiny, and I don't know what pollinates them.
          My achocha flowers attract wasps. Didn't realise wasps would even pollinate.

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          • #6
            Wigwam covered with red fabric,I don't think bees can see red or something like that,so they would ignore it & go for the yellows & blues?
            Location : Essex

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            • #7
              Can you make a brushwood one out of canes, sticks and whatever prunings you have?
              Bit like this https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationan...ities/shelters

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              • #8
                How about planting bamboo to make the den I have a bamboo plant in the garden been there for about twenty years and has spread about two feet so not invasive sadly don't know what variety, but I do use canes from it to make climbing frames for peas and beans and never any bother with bees etc.
                it may be a struggle to reach the top, but once your over the hill your problems start.

                Member of the Nutters Club but I think I am just there to make up the numbers

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                • #9
                  Thanks guys! Lots of lovely ideas...

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