I always wondered where the megachilid bees in my garden lived --and I just found out a sad way. I was digging up some iris and noticed lots of holes in the ground. Ants, I thought. But after a little more digging a few groggy looking leafcutters stumbled out. Later, a bunch of them were hovering over the area, confused, and unable to get back into their destroyed bee holes.

Ironically, I was digging up the iris to put in some roses --which I enjoy sharing with the leafcutters.

Here's my question: I do have a small dry patch of ground that is not in cultivation. Is there anything I can do to lure them over there, and away from areas that will get dug up and watered from time to time? Anything else I can do for them?

(They really are busy bees. One landed on my knee the other day, taking a break while clutching a big round circle of rose leaf under its body.)