Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: peapod on March 27, 2010, 19:51
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I am running a landscaping project at college, and need your opinions
In a plot of 37X22 ft I am aiming to attract wildlife. I have access to butterfly tree seedlings (who doesnt!) but Id love to know what plants you have found that attract buzzy bees, insects and hopefully from that, the birdies in your gardens
Can anyone help me out?
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Lavendar for bees, mine gets smothered with them :) as does the Iceplant later in the year...this thinking hurts :wacko:
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Budlehas for the butterflies
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My single St John's Wort looks ratty but its constantly buzzing with bees, so this year I'm getting more. They and hummingbirds love native flowers which contain more natural nectar than bred varieties. You'll find that single flowers attract them more than doubles as they're easier to access and have more nectar. Red honeysuckle are hummer favourites. The majority of birds prefer leftover seedheads in fall so I don't cut back my echinaceas, rudbeckias, crocosmias or bee balm for this reason. I've also just bought 3 different highly scented lilac 'babies' to eventually plant out by my mason bee houses. And don't forget snapdragons for bumblebees who finally have a decent chance to get the nectar first.
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Bees love Borage. Might also be worth having a look at this. (http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/gardening_for_bumblebees.htm)
Would be good if you could also incorporate a bee box for overwintering solitary bees :)
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I forgot about borage, and can't imagine how. Last year I direct seeded some in my well manured veg plot and they turned into triffids!! They were covered in bees which made the middle of my plot very difficult to work in :D Won't make that mistake this year.
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How about some campanula? At it's best in May when you can't see the foliage for the flowers, but I find that it has at least a few flowers on it for about 9-10 months of the year, where it's in full sunshine. I've a 20ft wall in my backgarden covered with this plant and I have lots bees visiting throughout summer - though noticably fewer last year :(
Also, if you've got something for it to climb up (eg a shed) how about a passionflower? The bees go nuts for the flowers, and some birds enjoy the fruits. Would need regular hacking back though or your shed & plot would soon disappear :lol:
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hi try scabious,vipers bugloss,bergamot,lungwort,veronica,oxeye daisy,verbena bonariensis,lemon balm,foxgloves,bugle,raspberries,knapweeds,thyme,rosemary,sage,chives,hyssop,purple looserife,ragged robin,self heal,betony,cornflower,marigold,globe thistle,teasel,sea holly,phacelia,lavender,runner beans,agrimony,kilmarnock willow,mahonia,cotoneaster,pyracantha,catnep and canary creeper to name a few hope this helps a bit
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hi try scabious,vipers bugloss,bergamot,lungwort,veronica,oxeye daisy,verbena bonariensis,lemon balm,foxgloves,bugle,raspberries,knapweeds,thyme,rosemary,sage,chives,hyssop,purple looserife,ragged robin,self heal,betony,cornflower,marigold,globe thistle,teasel,sea holly,phacelia,lavender,runner beans,agrimony,kilmarnock willow,mahonia,cotoneaster,pyracantha,catnep and canary creeper to name a few hope this helps a bit
Is that all you can come up with????????? :D :D :D :D :D
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no but my keyboard packed up lol
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Verbena bonariensis is the the one i was trying (and failing) to remember. Ta Blackisgreen. :)
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Verbena bonariensis is the the one i was trying (and failing) to remember. Ta Blackisgreen. :)
A very good plant, tall so it doesn't interfere with others, glows like magic when the sun is going down and seeds everywhere.....and I mean EVERYWHERE! :(
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Depends what you want to attract to your wild life garden, a pond for the frogs and newts, Peas for the birds and mice. Sweetcorn for the mice and deer, sunflowers for the bees.
Cabbages for the cabbage white :lol: :lol: :lol:
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all butterflies, ladybirds and months love nettles as most of them lay there eggs on the leaves :)
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Grow some that release a strong perfume in the evening and at night. These attract moths and the moths attract bats. I love bats :)
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Remembered one more but can't remember who told me about this one is coriander - leave it to grow wild and the bees love it.
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Don't forget the caterpillar food too though Peapod -- nettles and thistles, and nasturtiums too :D
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Careful with nasturtiums though, they seed everywhere. I used to love them until we moved to our new home, where the whole garden was overrun with them. They are great for wildlife though, and taste delicious in salads, so are an all rounder!