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Posted by L_ouise (U14863939) on Wednesday, 7th March 2012
Hello,
I really want a lot of wildlife in my garden, in particular bees, ladybirds and butterflies
I've got plenty of plants for the summers like lavenders and cornflowers and verbena - but what about now?
I'm not sure when all the insects come out of hibernation, but what would be on the menu in spring?
I'm not that keen on bulbs, but as an alternative which are the most sought after by insects?
Thanks
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
Winter flowering shrubs - Viburnum bodnantense,Sarcococca confusa,Chimonanthes praecox and Mahonia are loved by the bees in our garden when the weather is warmth enough to entice them out !
Bees love crocuses,too!
Pam x
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
I agree with Mahonia - I noticed several fat bumble bees on mine at the weekend
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
Saw a bee on my just about to flower, flowering currant
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
Primroses (single flowered) and pulmunaria attract bees in my garden at this time of year.
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
And of course ivy. For nectar and berries if the plant is old enough. Good choice for a wild or large garden, not for a small one.
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
Thanks for all of the replies
I'll be looking into all the suggestions xx
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by mister-grow-it-all (U14591945) on Sunday, 18th March 2012
i nad the bee s like winter honeysuckle
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
As well as obviously being great for cooking with, the largely out of control and wild rosemary in my parents' garden was getting the bees very excited a couple of weekends ago, and it seems to last all the way through until at least the end of summer, so perhaps that could be another good early spring flowering plant to add?
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
All of the ones mentioned are good choices. I'd also add, after spending half an hour this afternoon watching the comings and goings of several bees, early flowering Rhododendrons. I have a 25 yr old one in a pot which flowers through March and always attracts the insects, particularly bees.
A patch of nettles is always good for attracting butterflies to the garden. I have a patch at the back of a border and one behind a compost bin
I live on the Derbyshire/South Yorkshire border and have noticed Ladybirds seem to be in abundance this year. Has anyone else noticed it?
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
Yes, I posted abut the ladybirds a few weeks back. There are literally thousands of them in the garden, every leaf turned has several underneath, many of them busy making more ladybirds. Good show, few aphids this year methinks.
Link to this forum: Early flowering nectar rich hardy perrenials/self seeding annuals?
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