I am a wicked person! I purchased two hanging baskets of trailing geraniums pink and white – lovely. They made their debut last weekend in glorious sunshine and soon attracted the attentions of bees. Except ............. they are not real! Bought for purely practical reasons you understand - less dead-heading and watering to do - but boy did I feel guilty. So, this weekend, I am going to make amends and create a bee garden. I have compiled a list of plants to attract bees and will get started. In my defence I already have many plants flowering at different times of year which are bee beneficial but I can do much more. Many will help all sorts of other insects too. Bees need us and we certainly need them.
Let’s all be an A Team for the Bee Team!
Plants that I’ve chosen as being attractive to bees and to me:
Aquilegia, Allium, Borage, Cornflower, Cosmos, Fuschia, Geranium – hardy (and real!), Hydrangea, Ice Plant, Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme, Verbena.
Quite right Paeony, ivy is a fantastic plant catering for a great range of wild creatures. Last year I had many ivy flowers and the bees loved them. They also shelter amongst the thick foliage which blackbirds also nest in. If I coulod only have one plant in my garden - and how terrible would that be - then I'd probably choose ivy.
Don't get did of your ivy .Ivy bees are interesting to watch and other bees too.