Art piece above is copyright © Sandra Johnson.
Title image above is copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd

(This article was originally posted here on our Jujube Tree Nursery site.)
First published here 13th December 2024.

This is the final post for the year, and what better subject to end the year with than this awesome masterpiece Bee Hotel, made by my friend Sandra! This belongs in a gallery, so I shall caption it as though it were:


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


This will (hopefully!) be used by the local leafcutter-bees for their babies! Leafcutter bees are behind those very smooth round and oval shapes in leaves you may have seen, and they just love jujube leaves!


Copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Watch one in action:


The leaf cuttings are taken to the nest site (either a burrow in the ground or a narrow crevice) where they are woven together to make brood cells. Please do check out the incredible photos on this page. Just gorgeous!

We’re counting on the leafcutter bees here taking as much of a fancy to the Bee Hotel as I do, and lining the bamboo tubes in it with those leaf cuttings.

Without further ado, please admire Bee Hotel!


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Bee Hotel” [Polymer clay on can]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Sandra had previously made these two cuties you may have seen in other posts:


Johnson, S. (2024) “The Jujube Tree Nursery” [Polymer clay on metal skewers]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd


Johnson, S. (2024) “Kristi’s Garden” [Polymer clay on metal skewer]. The Jujube Tree Nursery, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Photo copyright © Optimate Group Pty Ltd