Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley A NestA SiteNest for Site Native for Native Solitary Solitary Bees and Bees Wasps and Wasps
SarahSarah Peebles, Peebles, 2019 2019 (permanent) (permanent) State StateArboretum Arboretum of Virginiaof Virginia at at Blandy Experimental Experimental Farm, Farm, Boyce, Boyce, VA VA Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley is situated at the junction of four different land- Dwelling:use areas:Shenandoah a community Valley garden, is situated an un-managed at the junction field, managedof four differentcollections land-use of areas:woody a community shrubs and garden, trees, and an aun-managed managed restored field, fieldmanaged and marsh collections with native of woodyplants. shrubs The and native trees, bees and and a wasps managed nesting restored and foraging field hereand reflectmarsh thewith com native- plants.plexity The nativeand importance bees and of waspspollination nesting ecology and to foraging our land-use here strategies reflect the and complexityour evolving and importance relationship ofwith pollination and influences ecology on theto ourland. land-use strategies and our evolvingIntegrated relationship media, earthwork. with Materials: and influences clay-rich earth, on chopped the land. straw, aggregate (“cob”); clay plasters, field & quarried stone, cedar cabinet, pyrography with milk paint, nest plank for solitary
bees & wasps (routed maple, plexiglass), custom amplifier (accelerometer, electronics), head- Integratedphones, media, loupe, earthwork. solar panel; Materials:pressure-treated clay-rich wood, earth, metal, choppedpolycarbonate straw, panels; aggregate styrofoam (“cob”); & clay plasters,mud field blocks, & quarried oak with mudstone, wash cedar (temporary). cabinet, pyrography with milk paint, nest plank for solitary bees & wasps (routed maple, plexiglass), custom amplifier (accelerometer, electronics),Assisted headphones, by Gabe Franklin, loupe, artisan solar plastering. panel; pressure-treatedSensory bee nest cabinet: wood, Mary-Ann metal, polycarbonate Alberga, panels;illustrations, styrofoam Jennifer & mud Rong, blocks, Cabinetry, oak with Rob mud Cruickshank. wash (temporary). David Waters & Brian Redmond, cob and roof construction. MCC ≡ 1200 Architectural Engineers, roof design. Lewis Whitesell,
AssistedZachary by Gabe Kahn, Franklin, Blandy Experimental artisan plastering. Farm & volunteer Mary-Ann builders, Alberga, technical illustrations, assistance. Jennifer Rong. Cabinetry, Rob Cruickshank, electronics (sensory bee nest cabinet). David Waters & Brian Redmond, cob and roof construction. MCC 1200 Architectural Engineers, roof design. Lewis Whitesell, Zachary Kahn, Blandy Experimental Farm & volunteer builders, technicalDwelling: Shenandoah assistance. Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 1 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 2 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 3 Mining Bees: A Wall of their Own
There are five species of mining bees (genus Anthophora) in Virginia that excavate horizontal nest tunnels in hard packed earth, including sandstone and building materials like adobe and cob. Cob is a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water, which forms a very strong wall upon drying. This cob wall serves as a nesting resource for mining bees.
1 Mining bee entering nest . Cluster of mining bee nests1
This group of bees is active from mid May until late June in our area. The holes that they do not reuse are likely to become occupied by cavity nesting bees and wasps that look for cavities but do not create them.
Although these mining bees occur naturally here at Blandy, we are encouraging them to nest in this wall by placing clay blocks where they nested last year in front of the newly constructed wall.
Photo credits: 1Charlie Eisman
Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 4 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 5 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 6 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 7 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 8 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 9 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 10 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 11 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 12 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 13 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 14 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 15 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 16 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 17 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley A Nest Site for Solitary Native Bees and Wasps The sensory by Sarah Peebles cabinet allows The curving wall serves immersive as nesting habitat for observation of mining bees that cavity nesting bees excavate tunnels in hard packed earth. and wasps inside Leafcutter bee backing into nest. Mining bee entering nest1. Cluster of mining bee nests2 their nests. Mud dauber nest (top)3. Over 150 species of wild bees live on this property. They pollinate wild plants in the fields and forests, and cultivated plants in the community garden and the arboretum. There are also many species of predatory wasps that catch aphids and caterpillars to feed their offspring, keeping plants from getting eaten. This installation provides Sunflower leafcutter them with nesting habitat and you with a chance to peer into their lives. bee cutting a leaf
Listen while closely viewing the nesting activities of a variety of bees and other organisms in action4. Headphones and lens provided or BYO. Blue orchard bee cleaning itself after visiting a flower. Bufflehead mason bee Aphid wasp carrying an Mud dauber wasp carrying foraging on false indigo aphid to its nest5. paralyzed spider. Supported by the University of Virginia Bicentennial with funding Unlike honey bees and yellowjackets, solitary bees and wasps are not strongly provided by the Alumni Board of defensive. A single female provisions each nest and defends it from insects, not people. Trustees and Sarah Peebles
Photo credits: 1,2Charlie Eisman; 3,4 Robert Cruickshank; 5Louise Hislop©
What to Do What to Observe Open the cabinet door to see who’s home. Food Provisioning Each chamber contains all the food a single offspring needs to grow from egg to adult. Bees provide pollen and nectar. Wasps provide insects, such as katydids and caterpillars, as well as spiders.
Leafcutter bee backing into the nest with Use headphones and pollen under its abdomen. magnifying lens together Potter wasp carrying Mud dauber carrying Grass-carrying wasp to enhance your a caterpillar to nest. spider. Adult will lay with katydid to feed to Each offspring will egg in chamber with offspring. She uses perception of tiny consume several several paralyzed grass to make nest inhabitants, their nest caterpillars to mature spiders. chambers.4 materials and activity2. Mason bee nest showing series of larvae Use 'on' button (shuts off consuming pollen. Each larva separated by Parasitism automatically). Close the a mud partition. Various flies, wasps and even bees lay door when you finish.. Wall Building eggs in occupied nests. Their larva will kill Cavity nesting bees and wasps build the host offspring and eat it, its food or both. Nest Plugging walls to separate each offspring. Mason bees, potter wasps and mud daubers use mud. Leafcutter bees use leaves.
When the nest is complete, the This cuckoo bee Bee flies visit Leucospid wasp adult seals the nest to keep out Mason bee carrying sneaks into nests flowers like bees, using its long mud in its mandibles enemies, then starts another and lays her egg on but lay their eggs ovipositor to pierce nest. She will never see her Leafcutter bee building leaf partition.1 the pollen and in open bee and the nest plug and offspring, which mature later in nectar. wasp nests. lay an egg into a the year, or next year. finished nest.3 Photo credits: 1Taglicht Media; 2 Charlie Eisman ; 3Mark Pagliarini; 4Felix Fleck
Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 18 Mining Bees: A Wall of their Own
There are five species of mining bees (genus Anthophora) in Virginia that excavate horizontal nest tunnels in hard packed earth, including sandstone and building materials like adobe and cob. Cob is a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water, which forms a very strong wall upon drying. This cob wall serves as a nesting resource for mining bees.
1 Mining bee entering nest . Cluster of mining bee nests1
This group of bees is active from mid May until late June in our area. The holes that they do not reuse are likely to become occupied by cavity nesting bees and wasps that look for cavities but do not create them.
Although these mining bees occur naturally here at Blandy, we are encouraging them to nest in this wall by placing clay blocks where they nested last year in front of the newly constructed wall.
Photo credits: 1Charlie Eisman
Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 19 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley A Nest Site for Native Bees and Wasps StateDwelling: Arboretum Shenandoah of Virginia, Valley Blandy A Nest Experimental Site for Native Farm Bees(2019) and Wasps Dwelling:Dwelling: Shenandoah Shenandoah Valley Valley A ANest Nest Site Site for forNative Native Bees Bees and andWasps Wasps State Arboretum of Virginia, Blandy Experimental Farm (2019) StateState Arboretum Arboretum of of Virginia, Virginia, Blandy Blandy Experimental Experimental Farm Farm (2019) (2019) Artist Statement
DwArtistelling :Statement Shenando ah Valley is situated at the Here, we enter an intimate space which invites focused, ArtistArtist Statement Statement junDctwioenll oinf gf:i vSeh deinffaenrdenota lha nVda-lulesey aisr esaitsu: aat ed at the conHteemrep, lwateiv een otebrs aenrv ianttiiomna. tMe uspda-tcuen wnehliicnhg ibneveitse, st wfoigcu &se d, DDwweellilningg: :S Shheneannadnodaoha hV aVllaelyl eiys si sit usaittueadt eatd t ahte the Here, we enter an intimate space which invites focused, community g a rden, an unmanag ed field, m anaged cavHiteyr en,e wster esn atnedr awno iondti mexactaev saptaocres (winh ircoho fin jvoitsets) f ocused, jjuunncctitoionn o of ff ifviev ed idffifefrernetn lta nladn-uds-eu saere aarse: aas : a contceomnptelamtipvela otibvsee rovbastieornv.a Mtiound.- tMununde-ltiunngn beeleins,g t wbeige s&, t wig & coljluenctcitoionns ooff wfivoeo ddyif sfehreunbts land -turese sa, rae ams:a an aged reflceocnt tdeimveprlsaeti vne sotibnsge revcaotilong.i eMs oufd -stoulnitnaerlyi nbge ebse easn,d t wig & ccoommmmuunnitiyty g agradredne,n a, na nun umnamnangaedg efdie lfdie, lmd,a mnaagneadg ed cavictya vnietsyt enress atenrds wanoodd w eoxocdav eaxtocrasv (aitno ros o(fi njo riostosf) joists) resctoormedm fuienlidty a gnadr dmeanr,s ahn w uinthm naantaivge dp lfaienltds, amnadn jaugsetd wacspavs.i tTyh nee setenrsso aryn dc awboinoedt epxrceasevnatso rasn ( inm rmoeorfs jiovies tvsi)e w ccoollelecctitoionns so of fw wooodoyd ysh srhurbusb asn adn tdre terse,e as ,m aa mnaagneadg ed reflercetf ldeicvte rdsiev enresseti nge setcinoglo egcieosl oogf iseosl iotaf rsyo blieteasr ya nbde es and beycoonllde,c ctioonnvse onft iwonoaoldlyy fsahrrmubeds afinedld tsr.e e s, a managed of sroeflilteacrti edsi vwehrsiec hn ensetsitn gin e dceoalodgwioeso do fa nsodl ihtaorlylo bwe epsl aanntd rreesstotoreredd f ifeiledl da nadn dm marashrs wh iwthi tnha ntiavtei vpela pnltas,n atsn,d a jnuds tj ust waspwsa. sTphse. Tsehnes osreyn scoabryin ceat bpirneeset nptrse asne nimts mane rismivme verieswiv e view restored field and marsh with native plants, and just stemwas:s pthse. Thheea dspehnosonreys cuasbedin teot gpertehseern wtsi tahn ai mmmagenrsiifvieer view Thbebe enyyaootnindvd,e ,c bcoeonenvsev naetniodtin owanlaalysllp fysa rfnmaeresmdtie nfdige fladiensld.d sfo. r aging here of soolfi tsaorileitsa wrihesic wh hniecsht inne dset aidnw doeoad wanodo dho alnl odw h pollalontw plant beyond, conventionally farmed fields. of solitaries which nest in deadwood and hollow plant reflect the complexity and importance of pollination sbterminsstg:e mthse: ih rte haaecd thpivehaiotdniepessh, ounnseeesdst tumosgaeetdet hrtieoargl swe,t ihfthoe ora d wm siatohgu naric fmeiesar, glinfief ier TThhee n naatitvive eb beese sa nadn dw wasapssp nse nsteisntgin agn da nfodr afogrinag ihnegr eh ere stems: the headphones used t ogether with a magnifier ecoTlohgey n taoti ovue rb leaensd a-unsde w starsaptes gniest ianngd aonudr feovroalgviinngg here bcryincbglr etishn,e gpi rat haracetsiiriv taeitcsiet, iscv,o intmieesmst, menneastsaetl rsmia alasnt,ed fr oiraoelldsa ,ts ifooounorscdhe sipo, slui rfinec etos , life rreefflelecct tt hthee c ocmomplpelxeixtyit yan adn idm ipmoprtoarntcaen coef poof lplionlaltiinoant ion bring their activities, nest materials, food sources, life relaretifolencsth itph ew ciothm apnledx iintyfl uaenndc iems poonr tahnec lea nodf ;p tohlelirn ation ccylcolcseyes,rc plfeaosrc,a uspsiat.e rTsa,sh icetoe cmsa,m bcioennmestma, lese anarnstahdle srne a lwantdaio lrlne salhanitdpio st nhinseht ohip asb iitnatto eeccoolologgyy t oto o ouru rla lnadn-du-sues set rsattreagteiegsi easn da nodu ro euvro elvionlgv ing cycles, parasites, commensals and relationships into diveecrosiltoyg ayn tdo aobuurn ldaanndc-ue sien fslturaetnecgeise sw ahnadt goruorw evs oalnvdin g cbloesyceolro nfsdoec aru rfseo. cdTuyhsne. a cTmahbiecin ;c etath,b eeiyna rewtth,i elenla crwhthaaelnln ga ewn doa vltlhe ear n htdiam bthiete ai tnh abitat rreellaatitoionnshshipip w withit ha nadn din ifnlufelunecnesc eosn othne t hlaen lda;n tdh;e itrh eir closer focus. The cabinet, earthen wall and the habitat sucrceelaetdiso nins htihpi sw piltahc aen. d influences on the land; their bseuybobtneledy oanred d cayornema dmpyeincll;ai mtnhgiec yw; wtahyielsly. c Twhhainellg vceih eoawvne gfre rto iomve eh rien tr iem sep eina ks ddiivveerrssitiyty a nand da baubnudnadnacnec ien filnufelunecensc ewsh wath garto gwrso wansd a nd beyond are dynamic; they will change over time in sduicvceeresditsy i na nthdi sa bpulancdea. nce influences what grows and stuob tslheue ba rtnledel acatoniomdn pcseohlmilpinpsg eb lwelitanwyges .we Tna hypeso .vl lTiienhwae t fovrroisem,w p h lfearrnoetm ss,p hieneasrkes c stps,e aks succeeds in this place. subtle and compelling ways. The view from here speaks succeeds in this place. toso tihtleo, brteihrlead tsri,oe lnaansthdioi pansns ibhmeiptawsl seb;ee ntto wp woeelelnian tpahtoeolrrl,si nt, iapmtloaenr s&ts, , p silpnaasnectcest;,s ,it nos tehcet s, soil,t ob itrhdes, raenladt iaonnimshailpss; tboe wtweeatehne rp, otilmlinea &to rssp,a pclea; ntots t, hien sects, shisftoiinlg, beicrodlso, gaineds aonf itmhiasl sp;l atoc ew aenadth beery, otinmde. & space; to the shiftsionigl ,e bciorldosg,i easn do fa tnhiims pallasc; et oa nwde baethyeorn,d t.i me & space; to the Dwsehlilfitnign gd reacwolso fgrioems o tfh eth riisc phl haciset oarnyd o bfe eyaornthde. n shifting ecologies of this place and beyond. Dwelling draws from the rich history of earthen buiDldwinegl l ing w dorralwd sc ufrlotumre tsh aen rdic fhr ohmis troercye notf ienanrothveanti ons buildDinwge lilni nwgo drlrda wcusl tfurroems atnhde frriocmh hreiscteonrty i nonf oevaarttihoenns in cbluaiyl dainndg ei na rwtho arlrdti scturylt.u Irne st haen dsp firroitm o fr escuesntat iinnanbolve ations inb ucilbladuyii nladgni,dn wgea eir ntch rw eaaortrielsdtr cythu. ilIstn uh trahebes isatapntid rwi tf aroolflm sfur rosetmacie ncnaltab iylne- nriocvha tions buildinin cgl,a wy ea ncrde aetaerdth t hairst ihsatrbyit.a Itn w tahlel fsrpoimri tc olafy s-urisctha inable earitnh cglaatyh earnedd eoanr-tshi taer;t itshtery s.t oInn eth feo uspnidraitt ioofn s ruesptauirnpaobslees earthb ugialtdhienrge,d w oen -csriteea;t tehde tshtiosn he afboiutnatd awtiaolnl frreopmur pcolasyes- rich oldb sutiolndein cga, twtlee wcraelalste fdo uthnids hina bthiteaste w fiaelld fsr,o amn dc lay-rich old setaornthe cgaattthlee rweadl losn f-osuitned; itnh eth setsoen fei eflodusn, adnadti on repurposes conetainrtuhe gs attoh gerivede toens-tsimiteo;n tyh eto s ttohnee l ifvoeusn odfa tihoen 6 r7e psularvpeoss es contoinldu esst oton eg icvaet ttlees twimalolns yf otou nthde i lni vtehse soef tfhieel d67s, salanvde s whol dli vsetodn aen cda ltatlbeo wuraellds ofonu tnhdes ien gthroeusen dfsie ilnd st,h aen 1d8 00's, whoc loivnetidn auneds tlaob goiuvree dte osnti mthoesney g troo uthned sl iivne tsh oe f1 t8h0e0 6's7, slaves continues to give testimony to the lives of the 67 slaves wwhhewenn ht hotih sli isv isteeidt ew a wansda a sl apabl aponluatranettidao tnoi onan nt hda enhsdue n hgtuirnnogtu ignrdgos ug inrnod usth.n ed s1.8 00's, Thiws hwoo lrikv eisd tahned s leacboonudr eind tohne tDhewsel lgirnogu snedrsi eisn othf eh a1b8i0ta0t' s, Thisw whoernk tihsi tsh sei tsee cwoansd ain p tlhaen tDatwi oenll ianngd s ehruienst ionfg h garboituant ds. when this site was a plant ation and hunting grounds. wwaallTlsl shf oifsro wrn anotairvtkie vi sbe etbehesee. s.e co nd in the Dwelling series of habitat This work is the second in the D welling series of habitat — wSarlalsh f Poer enbalteivs,e 2 b0e1e9s . — Swaraalhls P feoerb nleast,i v2e0 1b9e es. — Sarah Peebles, 2019 — Sarah Peebles, 2019 Photo:Photo: Robert Robert Cruickshank, Cruickshank, cabinet cabinet door; door; illustrationillustration by by Mary-Ann Mary-Ann Alberga Alberga Photo: Robert Cruickshank, cabinet door; ResoillustrationPhoto:nating Robert Bo dbyie sMary-AnnCruickshank,: where ar tAlberga, p cabinetollina t idoor;on ec o logy and Resillustrationonating B byod iMary-Annes: where Albergaart, pollination ecology and community intersect resonatingbodi es.wordpress.com community intersect resonatingbodies.wordpress.c om Resonating Bodies: where art, pollination ecology and cRoemsomnuatninitgy Binotedriseesc: tw hresreo naart,i npgoblloidniaetsio.wn oercdoplroegsys .acnodm community intersect resonatingbodies.wordpress.com
Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 20 Photos by Ben Sullivan and Sarah Peebles
Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 21 Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley was commissioned by the State Arboretum at Virginia. Supported by the University of Virginia Bicentennial with funding provided by the Alumni Board of Trustees, and contributions by the artist.
Special thanks to T’ai Roulston, Sam Droege John Matteo & Vincent Zhuang. This document designed and assembled by Kevin Steele with Sarah Peebles. © Sarah Peebles 2018–2019
Insects on pp. 3 & 5, mining bees Anthophora abrupta; pg. 8, aphid wasp; pg. 14, pugnacious leaf cutter bee nests (Megachile pugnata); pp. 15-16, potter wasp.
Dwelling: Shenandoah Valley Sarah Peebles, 2019 22