2 MILLION BLOSSOMS
dead-nettles, woundwort, clovers, tufted vetch, bugle, self- others. Viper’s bugloss is a particular favorite of mine: a glo- of bees.
4) Avoid Annual Bedding Plants Impatiens, pansies, petunias, begonias and so on are
showy, but most are useless for insects. In general, old-fash- ioned cottage-garden perennials are best, and also cheaper and more environmentally friendly, as once bought they should last for ever.
5) Avoid Double Flowers - ias and rhododendrons are available in ‘double’ varieties that have extra sets of petals. These extra petals often prevent in- - less. I have single varieties of dahlia and rose in my gardens that bees love; nearby grow double varieties entirely ignored by insects.
- urbia is already, relatively speaking, a haven for bumble bees and some other wild pollinators, with higher populations of species such as the buff-tailed and common carder bumble bees than nearby farmland. But we gardeners should not rest on our laurels; there is always scope for improvement. Here I suggest a number of things you can do to boost pollinator populations in your garden:
1) Deep Flowers
and short-tongued bumblebees, but if you want to help the longer-tongued bumble bee species, which include some of our rarest and most threatened species, include some deep - eysuckle, delphiniums and aquilegia are all good examples. You’ll notice your honey bees and some bumble bees nec- tar-robbing from some of these.
2) Shallow Flowers
of them love the umbels of Apiaceae-family plants, such as hogweed, lovage, parsnip and fennel. Daisy family plants are also good, such as the numerous small yellow dandelion-like plenty of dandelions and their relatives, you just need to ease autumn.
- ers look beautiful in a garden and will not take over. I have
94
6) Aim for a Continuity of Flowers
times, while bumble bees need food from March until Au- panic if you have some lean periods - the insects will hope- - bor’s garden. Of course you can help by encouraging your neighbor to plant pollinator-friendly plants too. If at all possible, try to squeeze in some food for those hungry bumble bees when current and pussy willows are all favorites with them.
7) Nesting Sites
Most bumble bee nest boxes rarely work. The secret seems to lie in careful placement of the box, and in provid- ing a hollow ball of cozy, insulating nest material, but this
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
