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Oh, come on.......you MUST remember The Herb Garden in the 70's? Great kiddies programme, that. Sage, the Owl and....'I'm a very friendly Lion called Parsley', not to mention Dillon the Dog. Oh, I just did.
Which leads me very nicely on to the central thrust of my post. I need your help, o knowledgeable ones. I have space (very, very small) in my front wall for some herbs. Therefore - could anybody please advise me as to which herbs are most beneficial to our wildlife? Bonus points for ones which are also aromatic and jolly pretty.
I thank you. Colin.
P.S. I ache like I've mud-wrestled a Bison for two hours. I dug my battlefield garden over today. Hoiked out enough masonary to build myself a bridge, ripped out encroaching lawn and then added bags of sharp sand, compost and farmyard manure. Dug this lot in and then became best buddys with my rake. I don't think I'll ever get a 'fine tilth' out of my border, but I did what I could and will scatter seed with carefree abandon tomorrow. Unless it pees down.
On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it - Jules Renard
Somebody on another thread said that they get most insects, butterflies, etc. on their Sage, though personally I don't really like the look or smell of it (reminds me of school Christmas dinners).
Lavender is really good for bumblebees and butterflies, especially if you go for the native English varieties, and it definitely fulfils the criteria of aromatic and jolly pretty. I was in Walsingham in Norfolk last summer where they had planted a whole border full of the stuff, and the place was quite literally buzzing. If you only plant one herb, I'd go for lavender.
Anything lemony smelling seems to go down well too - lemon mint, lemon verbena, etc - and it does smell lovely, especially when it has just rained.
Rosemary is popular with the bees, but it does grow BIG so be warned.
I think the basic principle is that if you think it's pretty and smells nice, so will the insects. It's a win-win situation really.
BB
P.S. The dog was called Dill. Dillon was the rabbit from the magic roundabout.
Dill is a nice herb too, but I've never had much luck with it, always seems to die on me.
Hi Colin
If I was going to grow herbs in a wall in order to attract wildlife I would choose from Oregano aka wild marjoram, chives, lavender, wild thyme and rosemary.
http://www.btinternet.com/~bury_rd/wildherbs.htm
Best wishes Chris
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Chives seem to be a favourite with bees too (in fact any of the onion family allowed to flower - suck as leeks)
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Lemon Balm - definitely. I love it.
http://www.herbsociety.org.uk/schools/factsheets/lemon_balm.htm
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
There seems to be no shortage of herbs for attracting wildlife.
It's just which ones can be grown in a wall that I'm less certain of.
Good Luck
Chris
I loved "The Herbs" and Sage the Owl was my favourite. Actually I bought a DVD of it just a few months ago so I can relive my childhood :-)
As to the aromatic, pretty kind, I agree with everyone else here. Lavender and rosemary are the best bets as the bees love them.
There is something new to learn everyday...
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I just read in a book that Goldfinches love lavender too, though I've never seen any evidence of it with mine. It likes quite dry soil and doesn't have very deep roots, so should be good by a wall, presuming there's a bit of sun there.
Hi Corriepaw,
Thyme is a good herb that will attract bees and other insects,It can be grown in rock gardens and walls.The aromas and flowers vary on each plant, there are many to choose from.
I remember watching The Herbs and Bill and Ben the flower pot men! :-)
Littleowl
Lavender every time for me, but my English Lavender has not survived the winter this year.
Littleowl - I saw the very first episode of Bill and Ben. I dashed home from infant school to see it on our first ever TV.
Cheers, Linda.
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