Meet the Masons

Mason wasps are strikingly beautiful.

The black and yellow patterns are intriguing, but even more intriguing are the mud nests they build.

Makes sense that these wasps are called mason or potter wasps, named for what they do. Their human counterparts work with stone, brick, and concrete.

Native Americans reportedly designed some of their pottery in the shape of wasp nests.

Last month we spotted two mason wasps in our garden. One was seemingly sunning itself on a salvia leaf. Another was sipping nectar from a rock purslane.

Now if we could only find their nests...