On Friday I had the pleasure of visiting the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Hyde Hall in Essex for the first time. For me, visiting 'professional' gardens such as this is a great way to get to see a huge range of interesting plants and observe what wildlife, if anything, is taking advantage.
My car thermometer said that it was 15 degrees Centigrade, but my body thermometer said otherwise, so apart from the Robins and Greenfinches singing their heart out, little wildlife was visible. But a few Honeybees from the garden's hives had bravely ventured out. And their plant of choice appeared to be this one (left).
With its little bluebell-like leaves and icy, up-tilted, simple star-flowers, this is Scilla mischtschenkoana - try saying that without sounding slightly tipsy.
Now here in the UK we have a couple of native Scillas, which have the English name Squill. Those people who live near our weather-battered western coasts and up in the northern Isles will be awaiting the emergence in April or May of the delightful blue Spring Squill (Scilla verna) on grassy cliff-tops and rocky areas. Even rarer is the Autumn Squill. However, the one we are most familiar with in gardens is not native but does well in gardens, the Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica). It has nodding blue flowers, which I have also found to be good for bees.
The main thing with squills is that they need good draining soil so that their little bulbs don't rot. They also prefer a well-lit position.The best time to plant squill bulbs is in the autumn. The flowers are so small that it is best to invest in quite a few bulbs and plant them just a few inches apart to have any kind of show.
Unless you have a hive nearby I can't guarantee that your squills will be alive with buzzing so early in the season. But as a sweet little foretaste of spring just as the snowdrops go over, with the bonus that they at least offer the chance of nectar for early bees, why not put it on the wishlist for planting later in the year?
They do not like clay soil. I had a carpet of them last year and one this year. The fact they need free draining soil does explain their disappearance. I wish the suppliers would put adequate information on their bulb packaging.