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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 11, 2007 20:20:09 GMT
I really enjoyed watching the bees that visited my garden last summer. I want to encourage more to come into the garden, so as well as my new veg patch I'd like to grow some bee-magnets in the border. Now I know I could google them (oOooOo) but it's much more fun to ask folk here if there are any particular plants that they'd recommend...bearing in mind that I only have a small garden. thank you  CPBxxx |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 11, 2007 20:58:30 GMT
Ello, angel cake - Oregano ("Cream and Gold" isn't too big, very pretty), Hyssop (small bushy shrub), Basils, Bergamot, Lavenders, Musk Mallow (beautiful), Sweet Marjoram (Golden M. would look lovely as an edging), Scabious, Thymes (I know you got 'em), Chives etc......none of them are too big or invasive. XX
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Post by andy on Jan 12, 2007 6:44:05 GMT
Verbena bonairiensis is good for all manner of insects and spring flowering heather usually attracts loads of bees around March time. Agastache is another fave too.
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Post by Plocket on Jan 12, 2007 8:19:53 GMT
I'd definately agree with Verbena Bonariensis - it's amazing. I'd also recommend fennel and teasle as insect magnets.
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Post by skarloey on Jan 12, 2007 8:29:07 GMT
I'm sure I've seen cotoneaster (until VERY recently I pronounced this cotton easter!!!) absolutely smothered in bees. Hang on a mo........ www.bumblebee.org/flowerlist.htmThat should help! ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2007 8:57:49 GMT
I'd say Lavender and Verbena Bonariensis too ;D
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 12, 2007 16:21:53 GMT
Thank you very much for your replies...ooh I like the sound of all them herbs..maybe squeeze them into the spaces in my (as yet fantasy) vegetable patch. I have the seeds for verbena bonarartraraietrearsoeyeansaldbchcwgiysbakjsbahsasis so can start on them soon ;D
Like teasels but I dunno if I've got room...wonder if they'll grow in a pot...and have quite a few baby lavenders in the Gh ready to go out. Coteneaster...don't they grow quite big? will look into it.
Thanks again
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2007 19:21:39 GMT
If you want a shrub, I find my hibiscuses are pretty good for bees. Lavenders are always a good bet as well. Mine were overloaded with bees at times last year.
FA x
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 9:19:11 GMT
Any sort of thistely things ( I wonder how you spell that really) the bumbles love them.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2007 11:11:29 GMT
bonarartraraietrearsoeyeansaldbchcwgiysbakjsbahsasis <Ihavejustspend10minutestryingtoreadthatsmiley>  |
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Post by MamIDdau on Jan 13, 2007 12:31:12 GMT
I thought she'd learnt to speak welsh, made perfect sense to me lol
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 13, 2007 13:06:01 GMT
I have a huge Cotoneaster, it supports my next-door-neighbours naff fence, and Im encouraging it to get as tall as possible so I cant see her "garden".It was wall to wall bees all summer, but no-one got stung at all.  You can keep them whatever size you require though with a hedge trimmer. My Lavatera was very popular with them too, but sadly, I got carried away with a saw, and it is no more..  Ps My dreams of buying her (the neighbours) house and expanding my territory are all over, shes sold her house to a landlord and is now renting it from him!  No wonder she tidied up just a little last year. |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 13, 2007 16:34:29 GMT
I got some seeds today including sunflowers, phacelia and teasels..the weather was too bad for us to venture out and take a look for a cotoneaster...I'll just have to go back to the GC!  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 13, 2007 18:44:05 GMT
Just a quickie CPB - teasels self seed everywhere and they are BIG! Might be better chucked over the fence in the waste ground instead of in your garden........
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You can keep them whatever size you require though with a hedge trimmer. My Lavatera was very popular with them too, but sadly, I got carried away with a saw, and it is no more.. 
No wonder she tidied up just a little last year.