Chelsea & RHS - Plant with bees in mind

[dave_norm_smith]

Hi

I'm sure a lot of you will have seen this last night but like her or love her I thought Sarah Ravens points about the plight of bees was a very important one. She mentioned that although we know stuff about the bad winters and Varroa virus affecting the bees the bees are actually starving (in part) due to out facination with double flower blooms.

Chelsea Flower Show 2011: Plant with bees in mind - Telegraph

I have looked for the list mentioned last night and the logo but I couldn't find either so I have included the link for you all to read.

I bit which struck home for me was when she said that we wont get farmers to change their practices overnight but us, the gardener, could. With the addition of a few nectar rich plants we not only help our own plots but help the little beasties which pollinate all our fruit and veg! Seems a fair swap to me!

I can't see how many members we have at the moment but if we were all to jump on board with this, it would be a hell of a start.

I'll get off my box now

Happy planting!

Dave

[zazen999]

Absolutely - plant simple flowers for the bees.

Limanthes, crimson clover, phaecelia, flax, nasturtums, chives - there's 5 to start with.

[Flummery]

I am trying to get one (out of 8 so not bad) member of our Britain in Bloom group NOT to keep ordering double plants, like double petunias. Singles are what the bees need, as many doubles are sterile.

[VirginVegGrower]

I saw this too and for those who are iPhone users there is an app to download so that you can reference which plants are bee friendly. I plant lavenders, daphnes, roses, buddleias, nepeta, salvia and others for that very reason. I would appreciate guidance on planting wild meadowland on our top lawn which is where we are planting orchard. We have two massive limes up there and it borders woodland so it never has and never could be a decent lawn. Wasn't it Einstein who warned of decreasing bee population and impact on Man's ability to survive?! Not sure but I seem to recall reading something on this.
Thanks Zazen for that list, I had thought about setting red clover into the lawn.

[dave_norm_smith]

Thats the one. But I can't find the list or the logo yet to show everyone! Maybe we are too quick off the mark?
A few on Zaz's list were definately there though. My parents grew a bed of the phaecelia last year, I swear I have never seen so many or so many different species of bee in one place. We watched them for hours whilst we all chatted- very civilized! lol

[VirginVegGrower]

Chelsea Flower Show 2011: Plant with bees in mind - Telegraph

[VirginVegGrower]

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sust...s_PlantList_V1

[VirginVegGrower]

Can't find the app either yet, have found the Chelsea app and maybe it is on that. List is above.

[dave_norm_smith]

Cool. Well found!

Maybe this is important enough to be stuck at the top for a week or two? What do the mods think?

[VirginVegGrower]

Maybe ask Zazen? Suggest you pm her.

[mrbadexample]

I've got chives - they seem very popular. My lavender is thinking about considering to prepare to begin to flower. The comfrey's in, and I have a tiny buddleia that I rescued from being a weed between my patio slabs.

I've made a bee house from a log with holes drilled in, but it needs finishing and fixing in place.

I like bees. I'm sure I could be doing more.

Is there anything I could grow in the borders of my front drive (north facing - ish), that will be beneficial to bees, thrive on nothing (i.e very limited soil), out-compete the weeds, and be zero-maintenance?

Thought not.

[VirginVegGrower]

Climbing hydrangea - they like north facing walls.Should you want to grow up a wall.

[mrbadexample]

Sadly, no, I've got a fence about 2½" high:



I'd like something that stays low to the ground.

[VirginVegGrower]

Hmm I'll have a think.

[mrbadexample]

I will dig up the weeds first.