Attracting bees and other polinators

[Ron]

With the much publicised decline in the honey bee population, I decided to look up which plants are particularly attractive to bees (and other polinators). How many do you grow?

Flowering plants
Achillea (yarrow, millfoil)
Agastache (giant hyssop)
Alchemilla (ladie's mantle~
Alstromeria (peruvian lily)
Anemone
Arabis (rock cress)
Armeria (thrift)
Aster
Bergenia (elephant's ears)
Centaurea (cornflower)
Cirsium (thistle)
Clematis
Echinacea (coneflower)
Echinops (thistle)
Echium (bugloss)
Eryngium (sea holly)
Erysimum (wallflower)
Eupatorium
Helianthus (sunflower)
Gaillardia (blanket flower, perennial daisy)
Helleborus (Christmas rose)
Impatiens (Busy Lizzie)
Lathyrus (sweet pea)
Lavandula
Lavatera (mallow)
Leucanthemum (shasta daisy)
Lupinus
Muscari (grape hyacinth)
Nigella (love in a mist)
Penstemon
Potentilla
Salvia
Sedum
Tulipa
Veronica
Viola
Zinnia

Shrubs
Buddleja
Cotoneaster
Hebe
Hedra
Pyracantha
Euonymus
Lonicera
Rosmarinus

I'm ashamed to say I only have one bush and five plants. Must get some more. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

[Ron]

One I missed, Perovskia (Russian Sage).

[carolann]

14 of the flowers but only 1 shrub I do try and grow singles and not the double tight knit flowers so the bees can get into them but I do have some doubles.

[Chuckles]

I have quite a few that are on the list Ronny, quite surprised myself

Flowering plants
Achillea (yarrow, millfoil)
Agastache (giant hyssop)
Alchemilla (ladie's mantle~
Anemone
Arabis (rock cress)
Armeria (thrift)
Aster
Bergenia (elephant's ears)
Centaurea (cornflower)
Clematis
Echinacea (coneflower)
Echinops (thistle)
Echium (bugloss)
Eryngium (sea holly)
Erysimum (wallflower)
Helianthus (sunflower)
Helleborus (Christmas rose)
Lathyrus (sweet pea)
Lavandula
Lavatera (mallow)
Leucanthemum (shasta daisy)
Lupinus
Muscari (grape hyacinth)
Penstemon
Potentilla
Salvia
Sedum
Tulipa
Veronica
Viola

Shrubs
Buddleja
Cotoneaster
Hebe
Pyracantha
Euonymus
Lonicera
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Rosmarinus

[Ron]

Chuckles, I'm impressed! Your garden provides a feast for the bees and butterflies. I must try to catch up.

[Jasmine]

I've got a few...

Flowering plants
Anemone
Armeria (thrift)
Aster
Clematis
Echinacea (coneflower)
Erysimum (wallflower)
Helianthus (sunflower)
Helleborus (Christmas rose)
Lathyrus (sweet pea)
Lavandula
Leucanthemum (shasta daisy)
Lupinus
Penstemon
Tulipa
Veronica
Viola

Shrubs
Buddleja
Lonicera

There was an article in GW (I think it was GW) this month saying to hard prune budds in April so they flower later as butterflies could do with nectar later on in the season and budds finish too soon for them to get the most benefit from them. I dead-head mine and they seem to flower until late autumn.

I must get a pic of land that runs down the side of our garden - although I despair of the weeds the butterflies and bees must love it over there.

[Ron]

Another impressive collection, Jasmine. Interesting about the budds, mine are huge at the moment, they could do with a pruning.

[carolann]

I have Pinks and Carnations
Stocks Night Scented and and the Ten Weeks ones,
Red Hot Pokers
Cornflowers
Lots of Foxgloves (wild) growing on the pond at the back of the garden as well as Blackberries and Nettles.
Wild Violets and I have found a couple of Dozen Spotted Orchids growing near the garden this week.

[Barbara]

I find they love poppies . I have lots of them, geraniums, sea pinks all over them in spring, sisyrinchium is always covered in bees and foxgloves are as well, cornflowers and sweet peas . clems are and lillies, lots of stuff for bees in this garden too, the top it has a cherry tree in spring you'd think there were power tools working with the sound of buzzing.

[Dutchy]

They also love Privet if you let it get into flower.
I have those in the front garden and am waiting for the flowering to finish before I cut them back to shape.
I just hope that is someday soon as it looks a right mess ;D ( the bees will disagree )

[Ron]

The bees have been buzzing around this little beauty today.

[Jasmine]

I love when the inside of a flower is a bit splodged about where the bees have been busy. When a bee has visited LG's burgundy frills poppies the pollen is scattered about all over the petals!
They've left your lilies quite neat Rony!

[Ron]

We have a better class of bee around here. Very tidy.

[carolann]

Forgot to add Lily's and Poppies to the list which I have lots of, nice pic's there Rony.

[Ladygardener]

Most of what I grow is attractive to the bees, the usual things that most folk grow. I love to hear them buzzing around and see the many different types there are.

[Ladygardener]

I could'nt believe it when this fella buzzed right past me as I was taking some pics in the garden this morning. He/she was loving the pollen in the Crocus King of the Stripes.

[theinsidegardener]

wow he's covered in it Ladygardener, how cool to see that in March. A very striking crocus too.

[Rosefriend]

Mar 7, 2015 11:19:45 GMT Ladygardener said:

I could'nt believe it when this fella buzzed right past me as I was taking some pics in the garden this morning. He/she was loving the pollen in the Crocus King of the Stripes.

Whey hey - I saw one today - lovely fat one, but no camera of course...well done LG - it is sooooo good to see them..

[Ladygardener]

theinsidegardener, Rosefriend, thanks very much for the noms. I can't remember seeing a Bee so early before. It was worth planting all those Crocus just to see it delighting in the pollen.

[Jilly]

Oops I gave this a nom on your garden thread Ladygardener, so I think that makes 3 Rosefriend,. I saw loads of honey bees around yesterday & as I was sweeping up on the patio I heard this really loud buzzing, when I turned round there was the biggest fat bumble you ever did see on the Iris.

[Ladygardener]

I've just been on my thread and seen your nom Jilly. You're lucky to see loads of bees so early. Perhaps that means we're going to have a fantastic summer.