Save the Bees

8/6/2019 Save the Bees

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Contents You Should Read More Eco-Books Page 1 of 89

Saving the Bees with herbs and wild-flowers
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- A Simple and easy to follow action plan .

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Table of ContentsOur Bees are Missing! ..........................................................11

So what can you do to help? ................................................12

Why is it so important? Bees make Honey? ........................12

The Rise of Multinational control ..........................................15

A Quick Fix ..........................................................................18

A simple action plan .............................................................19

Where to get your herbs? .....................................................20

What Containers to use? ......................................................20

What to put in the containers? .............................................21Planting in containers ...........................................................22

What Herbs to Plant .............................................................25

Bee Balm .............................................................................25Catmints ..............................................................................25

Comfrey ...............................................................................26Cone Flower ........................................................................26Globe Thistle ......................................................................27Hemp Agrimony ..................................................................27Hyssop ...............................................................................28Jacobs Ladder ...................................................................28




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Lavender .............................................................................28Lemon Balm ........................................................................29Lungwort ............................................................................29Marjoram .............................................................................30Meadowsweet .....................................................................30Mints ...................................................................................31Orpine ................................................................................31Rosemary ............................................................................32

Sage ...................................................................................32Thyme ................................................................................33

Propagation or breeding Herbs ........................................34

Why is planting Wild flowers in your garden so important. ....35

The four types of soil ............................................................37

Sunshine ..............................................................................38

Bacon & Eggs / Bird's Foot Trefoil ......................................39Lotus Corniculatus ...........................................................39

Common Centaury ..............................................................39Centaurium Erythraea .....................................................39

Common Stork's Bill ............................................................40Erodium Cicutarium .........................................................40

Cowslips ..............................................................................40Primula Veris ...................................................................40

Dog Violet ............................................................................41



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Viola Riviniana .................................................................41

Field Mouse Ear ..................................................................41Cerastum Arvense ...........................................................41

Field Scabious ....................................................................41Knautia Arvensis ..............................................................41

Greater Knapweed ..............................................................42Centaurea scabiosa .........................................................42

Harebell ..............................................................................42

Campanula Rotundifolia ..................................................42 Heartease ...........................................................................42

Viola Tricolour ..................................................................42

Lady's Bedstraw ..................................................................42Galium Verum ..................................................................42

Meadow Crane's Bill ...........................................................43

Geranium Pratense .........................................................43 Oxslip..................................................................................43

Primula Elatoir .................................................................43

Pasque Flower ....................................................................43 Anemone Pulsatilla ..........................................................43

Wild Tulip............................................................................43Tulipa Sylvestris ..............................................................43

Viper's Bugloss ...................................................................44Echium Vulgare ...............................................................44

Wet land ...............................................................................44

Bisort...................................................................................45




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Polygonum Bistorta ........................................................45

Comfrey (tuberous) .............................................................45Symphytum Tuberosum ..................................................45

Common Valerian ...............................................................45Valeriana Officinalis .........................................................45

Devil's- Bit Scabious ...........................................................46Succisa Pratensis ............................................................46

Grass of Parnassus ............................................................46

Parnassia Palustris ..........................................................46 Hemp Agrimony ..................................................................46

Eupatorium Cannabinum .................................................46

Lousewort ...........................................................................46Pedicularis Sylvatica ........................................................46

Marsh Cinquefoil .................................................................47

Potentilla Palustris ...........................................................47 Marsh Gentian ....................................................................47

Gentiana Pneumonanthe ................................................47

Ragged Robin .....................................................................47Lychnis Flos-Cuculi .........................................................47

Small Flowered Willow Herb ...............................................47Epilobium Parviflorum .....................................................47

Snake's Head Fritillary ........................................................48Fritollaria Meleagris .........................................................48

Meadow Thistle ...................................................................48



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Cirsium Dissectum ...........................................................48

Yellow Loosestrife ...............................................................48Lysimachia Vulgaris .........................................................48

............................................................................................48

............................................................................................49

Woodland Wild-Flowers .......................................................49

Bluebell ...............................................................................50

Endymion (or Hyacinthoides) Non-Scriptus ..................50 Colts Foot ............................................................................50

Tussilago Farfara .............................................................50

Early Purple Orchid .............................................................50Orchis Mascula ................................................................50

Foxglove ..............................................................................51

Digitalis Purpurea ............................................................51 Hedge Woundwort ..............................................................51

Stachys Sylvatica ............................................................51

Herb Robert .........................................................................51Geranium Robertianum ...................................................51

Lily of the Valley ..................................................................51Convallaria Majalis ..........................................................51

Musk Mallow.......................................................................52Malva Moschata ..............................................................52

Primroses ............................................................................52Primula Vulgaris ..............................................................52




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Snowdrop ...........................................................................52Galanthus Nivalis .............................................................52

Solomon Seal ......................................................................53Polygonatum Multiforum ..................................................53

Spurge (Wood) ....................................................................53Euphorbia Amygdaloides ................................................53

*Caution* Stinking Hellibore* ..............................................53Helleborus Foetidus .........................................................53

White Deadnettle ................................................................53Lamium Album .................................................................53

Wood Sorrel ........................................................................54Oxalis Acetosella .............................................................54

Yellow Archangel (Dead Nettle) ..........................................54Lamiastrum Galeobdolon ................................................54

Field Borderers ....................................................................54

Field Poppy .........................................................................55Papaver Rhoeas ..............................................................55

Foxglove ..............................................................................55Digitalis Purpurea ............................................................55

Ox eye Daisy .......................................................................55Leucanthemum Vulgare ..................................................55

Aaron's Rod ........................................................................55Verbascum Thapsus ........................................................55

Corn Cockle ........................................................................56



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Agrostemma Githago .......................................................56

Field Cow Wheat .................................................................56Melampyrum Arvense ......................................................56

Sun Spurge .........................................................................56Euphorbia Helioscopa .....................................................56

Teasel .................................................................................56Dipsacus fullonum ...........................................................56

Red Clover ...........................................................................57

What Flowers when? ............................................................57

Where to get your flowers ....................................................59

............................................................................................60

Collecting seeds ...................................................................61

Plant division ........................................................................61

Plants for free .......................................................................62

Please make your garden poison free ..................................62

Companion Planting .............................................................66

Other things you can do .......................................................67

What sort of Bees can you hope to attract? ..........................68

An A to Z of Buzzzzzzzz .....................................................68Bumblebees ........................................................................68Great yellow bumblebee ....................................................71




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Ruderal bumblebee .............................................................72Shrill Carder bumblebee .....................................................72Brown-banded carder bee ..................................................72White-tailed bumblebee ......................................................72Red-tailed bumblebee .........................................................73Garden bumblebee .............................................................73Early bumblebee .................................................................73Common Carder bee ..........................................................73

Short-haired bumblebee ......................................................74

Solitary bees ........................................................................74

Leafcutter Bee .....................................................................75Chelostoma campanularum, ...............................................75Mining Bee ..........................................................................75

Masonry bees .....................................................................76Carpenter bees ...................................................................76Cuckoo Bumblebees ...........................................................76

Where to next? .....................................................................77

What else can be done? .......................................................79



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Our Bees are Missing!

Bees are Dying Not onlyHoney Bees but all the Solitarybees and Bumble Bees aresadly, also in decline.

No one really knows for surewhy the bees are missing. Beeshave always had to cope withnumerous threats from anumber of pests and diseasesbut now, as well, they arehaving to face more stress fromincreasing changes in theenvironment. These include theaccelerative use of newpesticides in farming, whichthey are exposed to, as they tryto pollinate crops.

Others believe that, motivated by the greed to get betterhoney yields, we have bred a bee that is more susceptibleand has less resistance to disease.

Whatever the reason, it is absolutely vital that we all take pro-active steps to do as much as we can to help alleviate theseproblems.




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So what can you do to help?You can help by creating, bee friendly pesticide-freeenvironments. It does not matter how little space you have

access to. You can do this in your garden or even a containeror a window box, at home or work. We need to reverse thegrowing stress that the bee population is under from thegradual degradation and loss of their habitat, that ourdemands as a society are causing.

Why is it so important? Bees make Honey?Yes, bees make honey but that is not all they do. Bees domuch more than make honey. They also pollinate a vastrange of plants, many of which are foods that we all eat. If theplants are not fertilised, they do not produce fruits, nuts,vegetables and seed.

Most people do not realize that honey bees pollinate aboutone-third of our food supply around the world. If all the beeswere to disappear, and we could not find another way ofpollinating these plants, the plants to would all die out. Thenso would we.

Without the ever present and tireless work of bees, many

people would go hungry and starve. If you add to this therising population and the current transfer of crop productioninto bio-fuels, we could have a major disaster looming. Itcould lead to a collapse of food production.



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In the United States alone, just over 100 crops are dependenton the honey bee (Apis mellifera) for their pollination. In theUnited Kingdom, there is a similar tale to be told, with 10 of itsmain crops, which includes apples and pears, requiring beesfor their continued production.

After a recent pesticide accident in central China wiped out anarea's local Bee population, the farmers had to pollinate byhand with brushes, until the bee population recovered. Theextra labour involved put a severe strain on their agriculturalproduction and it became very apparent, that crop outputwould fall to dramatically low levels without the bees.

So you see, Bees are an integral part of much of ourAgriculture and have a significant role to play in all our foodproduction. This is at a time when resources are alreadybeginning to be stressed with growing food productioninstability.

So what are the Governments doing about it?Although the Governments realise that the threat is serious,other than continuing research and funding disjointedprojects, they appear impotent in taking on the Internationalagro-chemical multinationals.

The latest figures are as dramatic as they are worrying.Already, over a third of the hives in America have been lostover the last two years. That is a staggering 800,000 coloniesin 2007, followed by nearly another million in 2008.




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The Rise of Multinational controlThis new century has seen the development of themultinational Agro-business conglomerate. In it's search for

profit, it has brought about many changes in the countryside.The farming landscape is slowly becoming dominated byentire different set of plants that do not require bee pollination.

These profit seeking companies are working towardsgenetically engineered hybrids that are self pollinating, oncethey are sprayed with a chemical they produce and you

purchase from them. They have introduced trademarks andcopyrights to stop people gathering seed. Each year, youmust buy fresh seed from them. Many of the traditional beehabitats are quickly disappearing and along with them, manyof the traditional plants.

In the short term, the price of traditional fruits that we are allaccustomed to, will slowly increase, as the old varieties ofapples, pears and plums become more rarer. Then they willcease to exist altogether, like so many varieties of fruit beforethem. Already supermarket shelves are full of bland, tastelessofferings forced on us by unceasing standardisation. In thequest for good-looking, easily transportable fruit and veg, weare being deprived of nutrition, and the simple pleasure oftaste.

Intensified commercial farming has become more and moredependent on the use of pesticides and chemicals. The needfor bigger fields, to enable access by bigger machines, hasreduced the hedgerows. The practice of monoculture,(growing only one type of plant) has reduced the variety ofplants available.




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All the chalk grassland and old hay meadows have beennegatively impacted, but more importantly, the wild-flowers

are disappearing at an alarming rate. These are the veryflowers that the bees depend on to feed their young.

Sadly, already in the United Kingdom, three of the remaining25 species of bumblebee are thought now to be extinct. Theyare the Apple bumblebee, Cullum's bumblebee and morerecently the Shorthaired bumblebee. These beautiful

creatures are unlikely ever to be seen again.

People often feel powerless when they hear of so many thingsgoing wrong in the world and feel that there is little they cando. In this case there is no reason to feel helpless.

You can be a force for positive change, by simply helping toboost the biodiversity of plant species in our Gardens andcountryside. The easiest way to do this is by planting andcaring for a wide selection of herbs & wild flowers. Whereever you live, this will help beyond measure.

It is already to late for some species of Bees, but you could

help save from extinction several more species that are inimminent danger, these include the Great Yellow Bumblebee,the Brown-Banded Carder Bee, the Shrill Carder Bee and theRuderal Bumblebee.If we get it right then lots of other wildlife will benefit to, if weget it wrong then our children's, children will only know a



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Bumble Bee from pictures in a book. Such a change to thebalance of nature could be catastrophic for life dependent onthe plants that the bees pollinate.

Again if the simple Bumblebee disappears, many traditionalnative plants that they pollinate will suffer.




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A Quick FixSome of the most valuable plants that you can grow to helpBees in the short term are those of the pea family, the figwortfamily and the daisy family. In early spring and then insummertime, fruit trees will give the bees respite, even smalldwarf varieties in patio pots will provide an important resourcefor visiting bees.

This works both ways, as how much fruit you get from thesetrees, will depend entirely on the visits of bumble bees andsolitary bees pollinating their flowers. If you can, try and findthe more traditional varieties to plant and grow. Unfortunatelymost of the popular annual bedding plants such asPelargonium, Begonia, Busy Lizzies have little nectar to offerbees or other wildlife.

Instead if you want help the bees, you should concentrate ontrying to grow a traditional cottage garden flowers, herbs andnative wild-flowers. Not only are they delightfully pretty tolook at, but generally they are more hardy and much moreresistant to slugs and diseases. If you can, try growing arange of different flowers.

Some species of bees, like bumblebees for instance, differ inthe length of the tongues and prefer different shaped blooms.These types of plants will also attract a range of otherinteresting insects to your garden, including butterflies.



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A simple action planIt does not matter if you are a gardening novice or an alreadygifted amateur. Here is a simple action plan that that you canfollow, that will enable you to help the bees and make a realdifference to the environment for the good of every livingcreature on the planet.

The first thing you should try your hand at is growing aselection of herbs in containers. It does not matter how smalla space you have or where you live, whether you are acomplete beginner or just need refreshing, you can have a goat this.

Herbs are great, because you can grow them in pots on yourwindow sill, window boxes or larger pots by your door. I dorecommend that you grow them within easy reach of yourkitchen though because guess what? The great thing aboutHerbs is you can use the leaves for cooking and the bees usethe flowers.

So, the first point I would like to make is that, if you are goingto get into the culinary use of herbs, and I really hope you do,you will need more than one plant of each variety. This is soyou can lightly use and graze on the leaves of more than oneplant, to give them a chance to recover.




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Where to get your herbs?Of course you can buy herbs at the local garden centre,supermarket or even on-line. I am going to suggest that first ofall you talk to you friends and neighbours and see if they haveany cuttings to spare. You will find that most gardeners aregenerous by nature and eager to share their knowledge, asyou should be as well. See if there are any local gardeningclubs. Failing that there are lots of farmers markets springingup all over the place or you can even make enquiries at your

local health food shop.

Here is something else that you will find incredibly useful.Start your own gardening journal, make a note of your efforts,who you approached, whether they could help or not, howmuch you paid, where you got your herbs from eventually andespecially make a note of any advice you are given. This is

such a good habit to get into and you will find it invaluablelater on as I will show you.

What Containers to use?So, you have your plants, now you will need some containers.

The truth is, within reason, anything that can hold soil and hasgood drainage can be used to grow plants. Have some fun, ifyou do not have fun gardening you are not doing it right! Fromclassical Urns to old boots, your imagination is the onlylimitation.



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There are a few things to consider though. Firstly, containersneed to be kept watered. Strangely enough the wind cancause a container to dry out more quickly than the sun, somake sure you site your container in a sheltered spot.

Another thing to remember is that dark colours, like blackabsorb the heat more readily than light colours. This willcause the container to dry out more quickly. White on theother hand tends to reflect the heat and keep the soil moist.Lots of Herbs look wonderful set off against a white container.

If you are going to perch pots on window sills, or use windowboxes, it is no good just balancing them and hoping for thebest. You must make sure that they are secured firmly.

What to put in the containers?

Commercially sold soil based composts are generally sold asJohn Innes Mixtures . The name is not a brand name butrefers to horticultural research establishment where therecipes for the ingredients were originally worked out.

The best compost to use for containers is a loam based one.The principle ingredients are peat, loam and lime- free sand,

all of which have been sterilised.

To this, super-phosphate of lime, sulphate of potash and hoof& horn are added as a fertiliser, along with varying amounts ofchalk or limestone. The best John Innes formula for containergardening is John Innes No.2.




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Arrange the herbs you are going to plant, while working thecompost around them and carry on filling the container toabout an inch from the top.

After you have planted your herbs cover the surface with gritor straw, called mulching. This will help the container to holdmoisture for longer and help suppress any weeds that mighthave strayed in.

Do not water the con tainer until it is fixed in it's final position!

Remember, if you can, to have the container on slightly raisedblocks and this will help with the drainage, especially if youare using a drip tray.

When it comes to watering, another thing you can do when

you are planting your herbs is to insert a cut down plasticbottle to help with the watering. Simply get an old plasticwater or pop bottle of the right size for your container. Cut offthe bottom and remove the top, turn the bottle upside downand bury it in the container, making sure you do not getcompost in it, when you plant your herbs.

When watering the container you can pour the water straightinto this bottle and the water will get straight to the roots of theplant. This uses less water than if you pour it straight into thetop of the container as a percentage of the water willevaporate before it reaches the bottom of the plants rootswhere it is needed.




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Another way to conserve water is to rig up a drip feed throughsmall tubes to the containers. You can buy fairly cheapsystems everywhere but if you fancy a go at building yourown, you can get some useful pieces from pet shops thatstock and sell air hoses and connectors for Aquariums.



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What Herbs to Plant

Bee BalmMonarda didyma

This tall perennial will burst into spires of flowers, usually inshades of red and pink. Bee Balm is a cousin of the equallyuseful Horsemint. Although this herb grows in ordinary soil itcan also do well in heavy clay. It does best though in dry,alkaline soil conditions in a sunny to part shade area. Itflowers from June to July.

Other Names: Bergamot, Eastern Beebalm, Wild OswegoTea, Monarda

Catmints Nepeta spp

Bees love this and its closecousin the Blue Catmint (N.mussinii). The Catmint thatwill bring every cat in youneighbourhood to your gardenis N. cataria. Another one thatthe Bees adore is the fragrantand lemony N. govananiiwhich can be grown as a tallshrub. Catmints bloom fromJune till July, although if youtrim them you can get asecond flowering. They likewell drained soil and they are




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drought resistant, enjoying fullsun.

Comfrey Symphytum officinale

Like the mints this perennialcan become invasive. With itsedible foliage and its prettybell shaped flowers in creamypink, it is a must for you andthe bumblebees it will attract.It flowers from May toSeptember. The root can bedivided in spring or autumn,or the clumps divided. Itprefers a damp soil and shady

conditions Other names:Knitbone,boneset, bruisewort,blackwort

Cone Flower Echinacea

This showy, daisy like perennial with purple flowers on tallstems, is a deciduous plant originating from the USA, thathas hidden medicinal properties that have been used forcenturies. It loves a moist, rich and well drained situationswith full sun to semi shade. This plant may need a support asit can grow to 1.5 metres.



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Globe Thistle Echinops ritro

This tall perennial is a magnet for bees when it's round thistlelike flowers are in bloom. A great architectural plant with itscobwebbed leaves, it provides interest from spring, rightthrough until late Summer when it's blooms finally appear. Itassociates well with other tall striking late summer plantssuch as the Coneflower. It enjoys dry or moist, well-drainedlight sandy soil in full sun to partial shade.

Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum

This tall perennial hasparticularly attractive fluffymauve flower heads. It alsohas a slightly taller andequally attractive close cousinin the Jo-pye weed (E.purpureum) Flowering fromJuly through to September it

thrives in most soils, enjoyingfull sun to partial shade.




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sun, warmth and very good drainage. To propagate you cantake cuttings from May to August. Low bushy versions of this plant will make a lovely perfumed border for a

path.Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis

Bee keepers used to rub the leaves of this herb on theoutside of their hives, in the belief that it would stop the beesswarming and remain content and calm. The Latin nameMelissa is actually the old Roman word for Honey.

As the name suggests the leaves have an almost pungentlemon flavour which decreases as plants flower. Bees andother pollinating insects are attracted to this hardy perennialthat enjoys full sun and well drained light sandy soil. Theother name for this plant is bee balm. It flowers all the wayfrom June into October.

Lungwort Pulmonaria officinalis

Flowering early in the yearthis is one of the first flowersthat early hive foragers andwaking queen bumble beeswill seek out. A very prettyspring perennial with

distinctive tubular flowers thatopen pink but slowly changeto intense blue as theymature, providing pollen forearly bumblebees. It preferspart shade and averagemoisture.




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Marjoram Oreganum vulgare

Marjoram or Oregano? In fact,all marjoram varieties areoreganos. This herb carriesits pink or white flowers for along time in the summer, oftenon into the autumn, makingthis aromatic perennial a must

for nectar loving insects. It isfairly drought resistant andyou can get away withwatering the plant, when thesoil dries out. Feed the plantsonly twice in the growingseason to preserve the flavour

Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria

One of the perennial herbsthat flowers in the earlysummer with pretty whiteflowers. It usually enjoys a

damp fertile soils but willflourish given a bit of help withmulch or manure. Divide theplants in autumn or winter.You can put the larger clumpsto be replanted direct into



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their permanent positions,smaller clumps are betterpotted up and nurtured in a

cold frame until they are well-rooted. Plant them out in thefollowing spring. Other namesinclude Bridewort, Lady of theMeadow, Meadow queen,Mountain Spirea.

Mints Mentha spp.All the mints are particularlyinvasive and are best grow incontainers . Mints will grow inmost conditions but they donot like it to too dry. Ideallythey enjoy a position that isdamp with moist soil.Although they will toleratesome shade they prefershade at the roots but sun ontheir leaves.

Orpine Sedum telephiemThis rough looking perennial is a close cousin to the morewell known ice-plant. It has tall and robust reddish stemswith dense, shaggy heads of red-purple, flowers.Blooming from July through to September it folk name isLive Long because of its resistance to drought, frost and




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cutting back and can grow in any soil or position but dislikesfull shade.

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis

When this shrub comes into flower, it attracts most of the beespecies to its delicate purple and blue flowers. It prefers alight sandy soil, which will fully satisfy its needs. Although, itis tolerant of most soil conditions, as long as they are notwater-logged. If you grow it in a slightly limey soil (theopposite of acid), the plant will be smaller but will produce

more fragrant leaves. It can survive quite severe frosts aslong as the weather is not wet or windy. Ideally you shouldgrow it in a sunny and sheltered position.

Sage Salvia officinalis

All the shrubby perennials ofthe Sage family are good forattracting and feeding bees,except the red bedding types.One, the S. Apiana has beennamed for the bees and Clarysage (S. Sclarea) is just asgood. It enjoys a light, warm,and dryish soil with lots ofsunshine but not so muchthat it is scorched! You canpropagate it by takingcuttings from well-establishedplants in April or May. Leavesand flowers are both edible



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but remember you aregrowing the flowers for thebees.

ThymeThymus spp.

Left to become a bushy shrub, this small and quicklyspreading herb is loved by bees. Try and find those ThymusSerpyllum varieties of cultivars, especially Bressingham Pinkor Russettings. Being a native of the Mediterranean Thymeneeds a place in full sun and likes a well-drained light soil.This should not be too rich in nutrients or it will only make theplant 'leggy' and loose its compact shape. Water to keep thecompost moist, and feed with liquid plant food every twoweeks from April to August.

Also recommended:

Agastache , moist, well-drained soil and prefer a sunnyposition.

Allium schoenopraesum , Chives are popular perennial bulbsthat form neat tufted clumps. They prefer a well drained lightsoil in full sun.

Centranthus ruber , Red Valerian is hardy and again enjoyslight, well drained soil in full Sun.




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Dipsacus , Teasels are biennials and once they areestablished they will self-seed freely. These are covered inpinkish purple or white flowers by the mid-summer. When

they dry to an attractive shade of brown they are often usedfor dried flowers arrangements.

Propagation or breeding HerbsAs you can see by the list above most herbs can be increasedby taking cuttings. These cuttings can usually be taken anytime in the summer. Look for those new soft shoot tips thathave grown from that spring and cut them off to about3inches (7.5cm) long. Put them in a plastic bag straight awayand keep them in the shade, out of strong sunlight, until youare finished.

When you get back to your work area, be that a workbench orthe kitchen table, trim the cuttings below a leaf joint andremove the lower leaves with a sharp knife. Make sure youleave at least two leaves on the cutting.

If you want to increase the chances of the cutting taking, youcan dip the end in hormone rooting powder or liquid. Thenplant the cutting in a pot of compost that is an equal mixture ofseedling compost and vermiculite. Water the cutting with ahand spray and fix a plastic bag over the whole pot with anelastic band to seal in the moisture.



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The pot can then be left in a cold frame, greenhouse or insidea kitchen window. Within 6 to twelve weeks this cutting willdevelop a small root system and become a small plant.

Place the pot in a shady area, where they will not get full sun.When the cuttings are well rooted. You can harden them offbefore planting them in their permanent site or re-pot theminto larger individual pots. Trainee gardeners are often taughtto experiment with geraniums, ivy and mints to get the hang ofit, as these take fairly easily.

If you want to make a lot of cuttings, for making a knot gardenor you intend using them for a border, you can dispense withthe pots and just plant them straight into a bed of the samemix compost in the cold frame.

Once you have mastered these techniques and havecultivated your own herb garden you are ready for your nextstep in saving the bees.

Why is planting Wild flowers in your garden soimportant.

In the long term we all need to cultivate as many oldtraditional wild-flowers as we can. The bigger and blouseygarden blooms that have been bred for show over the years,have been developed at the expense of their nectar andperfume. Double flowers are of little use as they hardlyproduce any nectar at all, for insects to feed on. Even those




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single flowered blooms may be of little use, if they are exoticand not native.The very best flowers that you can grow to attract and feed

bees are the traditional simple and open ones. These carrymore nectar and pollen than the other types. An EnglishCottage garden stocked with a wide variety of flowering plantsis ideal territory for bees .

We need to educate people, and encourage activities such asthe planting of wild-flowers and traditional cottage flowers in

gardens, the replanting of hedgerows, and the re-creation ofhay meadow and chalk grassland habitats.

Unfortunately, however well meaning, it is not as simple asbuying a packet of mixed wild-flower seed and sprinkling it ona unkempt part of your garden. To stand a real chance ofsuccess in growing wild-flowers you will have to pay attention

to where they like to grow. Just like us, plants have their likesand dislikes, so let us take a look at how to cultivate them.

The main problem with a garden, as far as wild-flowers areconcerned, is that the soil is often to good. Yes, most wild-flowers have developed and evolved on poor soil. Growingwild-flowers in an ordinary garden can be problematic

because not only do they like poor soil, they also prefer acertain sort of environment. Each plant has flourished in itsown little corner of the world for many complicated reasonsand it has probably taken a few hundred years to get itselfestablished with its neighbours. It has everything just the wayit likes and then its seeds are scattered in a completely alienenvironment, your garden.



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Again, as with the herbs, probably, the best way to startgrowing wild-flowers to support the Bees and other insects

that visit your garden, is to grow them in patio containers,window boxes and pots.

The only difference to growing the herbs is that now we willdevelop and use four separate growing mediums or mixes inour containers, to increase the success of the Wild-flowersactually blooming.

This has the benefit of letting you go some way to replicatingthe conditions the plants enjoy. There is also the added bonusof enabling you to have them near your windows where youcan keep a check on them and more importantly be able tosee if they are working in attracting the bees.

With experience, as you learn to understand the needs ofeach plant, you can collect the seeds or transplant seedlingsto other areas of your garden. These spaces you can prepareusing the knowledge you have learned, from growing anestablished colony in your containers.

The four types of soilFor starters you can divide your containers in to four differentbroad types. This will go some way to ensuring somesuccessful blooms. These plants do not all feed the bees butthey are supportive of each other, and are chosen because oftheir compatibility in forming a viable community.




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Often referred to as Companion planting, something weshall explore again later, these plants have learnt over time, to

co-operate to their mutual benefit. You do not have to grow allof the plants in a section! You can start with as little as threedifferent types but a half dozen would be better but make sureyou include at least one type of nectar producing flower.Research has shown that the gardens with more than 10varieties of flowers attract the most bees.

SunshineWild-flowers that love open sunny grasslands will thrive inpoor soil but will also want very good drainage. You shouldstart your container off by filling it with at least 3 inches ofclean pebbles. You can cover this with seed compost or dig ahole in your garden, remove the top 9 inches (the topsoil)and then use the soil from the bottom of the hole to fill your

container.

Now this might be the complete opposite to what yourgardening books and TV experts recommend for containergardening, but if you are tempted to even add a little bit offeed or compost, the plants will not flourish. If you feed thesoil it will encourage other plants, (I do not like to use the

word weeds), that will flourish, outgrow and smother the wild-flowers you are trying to cultivate.

Place the container in a sunny aspect and do not over water.When the flowers have finished and died back at the end oftheir season, do not be tempted to tidy them up. Unless you



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are going to collect them, let all the seeds fall before trimmingit up. Give it another trim just before the spring to let in thelight and you should have clusters of new shoots .

Here are some of the traditional Wild-Flowers that enjoy asunny disposition.

Bacon & Eggs / Bird'sFoot Trefoil

Lotus Corniculatus

It has got the curious name of Bird's Foot Trefoil fromproducing seed pods arranged in birds-foot pattern. Theseturn dark and curl later in the season, looking for all the world,like the clawed feet of little birds. In tradition it is the flower ofTom Thumb and protected by the fairies. It flowers from theend of April through to mid September, and produces anabundance of nectar . This makes it extremely popular with

bees that often return for several visits. It grows to a height of36cm. Plant in Autumn or Spring, but be careful, this plant isvigorous and can spread quickly.

Golden Yellow with Red patches.

Common Centaury Centaurium Erythraea

This lovely compact plant has pinky white flowers with adistinctive yellow centre. It grows in a clump of densebranches, each with a single flower on top. The name reflectsthe legend that its properties were first discovered by Chiron




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the centaur. In Greek legend, he was a wise creature, halfman half horse and the tutor of the young Hercules. It flowersfrom April through to September growing up to 25cm tall,

preferring a full sunny position. Other name Feverwort Pinky White with Yellow Center

Common Stork's Bill Erodium Cicutarium

These are similar to small Cranesbill but they have longerseed cases from which they get their name. They can evenbe found in dry bare places on sand. With dark pink flowersthey bloom from May to August. They burst open in a spiralwhen ripe, sending the seeds (which have little featheryparachutes attached) into the air. This is a plant for a drycontainer in full sun

Dusky Pink

Cowslips Primula Veris

A native perennial. It's flowers were always popular for wine-making and is associated in Northern Europe with theGoddess Frega, who held the keys to Happiness and Love.Once common in the Meadow banks of England and Walesand central Ireland it has now become much rarer. This lovelylittle flower blooms from April to May. They grow to a heightof 25.5cm. and prefer dapple sunlight. It was a firm favouritewith the late medieval Elizabethans, who grew them in theirKnot Gardens.



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Dog Violet Viola Riviniana

The flowers vary in colour and can even be white, when theybloom from April to July. This perennial can grow inwonderful great clumps of 20 to 30 flowers. The plantrequires Winter frosts to stimulate it and crack its seed husk.It grows to about 15cm in height, but has less of a scent thanits cousin, the sweet violet.

Violet

Field Mouse Ear Cerastum Arvense

Perennials that used to be found on grassland roadsides. Itflowers from April to August. A plant which is in many placescultivated for its beauty, the white starry flowers being morethan a half-inch broad, borne in graceful terminal clusters.But its creeping root-stocks make it difficult to keep withinbounds, as every joint is capable of forming a new plant, sobest kept to a container.

Field Scabious Knautia Arvensis

This perennial flowers all summer. It is particularly popularwith bees and soldier beetles. This plant is also known asGypsy Rose, Blue Button and Ladys Pincushion. It has awoody tap-root, which gives it a firm hold on the ground.




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Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa

This plant has upright branch stems with thistle like a flower

heads. It flowers in July and prefers a dry alkaline soil in asunny position. There is also the Hardhead Centaurea nigraor common, or lesser knapweed which has smaller flowers.

Harebell Campanula Rotundifolia

Although the leaves on the stem are long and thin, there arealso small, round lower leaves which are its distinctivefeature. This perennial prefers dry grassy places and flowersfrom July to September.

Heartease Viola Tricolour

This is a wild pansy, that Shakespeare made famous in hisplay Midsummer night's dream. Oberon squeezes the juiceof this flower into the eyes of Titania, Queen of the fairies, tomake her fall in love with bottom, the poor actor, who hasbeen given the head of a donkey. Traditionally it has alwaysbeen associated with love and flowers from April toSeptember.

Lady's Bedstraw Galium Verum

There is an old story from medieval times that the Mary gavebirth to Jesus on a bed made of this plant, giving rise to its



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name. It is the native perennial and is known to groundsmenas a lawn weed that flowers from June to August.

Meadow Crane's Bill Geranium Pratense

This is one of the most distinctive members of the Cranesbillfamily with its striking, big blue flowers. It is a perennial thatflowers from May to September and obviously is a member ofthe geranium family.

blueOxslip Primula Elatoir

A perennial that blooms from April to May with deep yellowflowers. It may be confused with the closely related cowslipwhich has a similar general appearance.

Yellow

Pasque Flower Anemone Pulsatilla

This pasch or pasque flower, traditionally comes out atEaster, and hence its name. Familiar to archaeologists, itlikes to grow on old earthworks. This perennial continues to

flower, from April, into May.

Wild Tulip Tulipa Sylvestris

This citrus yellow small flower carries the sweetest fragrence.With just a few shiny grassy looking leaves it stands about




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12 inches high (30 cm) when full grown. Although the tulip iswell known throughout Europe its origins remain shrouded inmystery.

Viper's Bugloss Echium Vulgare

Wet landNow, most bog loving wild-flowers tend to enjoy soil that leansto the acidic. So, here a good peat based compost will do thetrick or if you are worried about using peat for environmentalreasons use a substitute or try the ericaceous recipe wementioned earlier.

Remember that in this case, the container does not need tobe as free draining, so do not add to many stones into thebase. Secondly, because of the nature of moisture lovingplants, you will need a fairly big container or split them up, asthey will tend to grow quite bushy. The container does notneed to be soaking wet but you must take care that it neverdries out completely.

Here are some wild-flowers that prefer to keep their feetdamp.



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BisortPolygonum Bistorta

This plant is one of the main ingredients in the ledgerpudding that is made around Easter in Yorkshire and theLake District. This perennial flowers from May to August. Itprefers a damp, shady area and is equally suited to a boggarden or as pond edging. You can propagate it by dividingthe root stock in early autumn or spring.

Comfrey (tuberous) Symphytum Tuberosum

The leaves of this plant are much smaller than the CommonComfrey and its root stalk is tuberous. In the wild it inhabitsdamp meadows and settles by streams. This perennialflowers from May to July. Used as a compost activator, theleaves of the Comfrey are so rich that it not only enriches butencourages the heap to heat up. It can also be used to makea potent liquid plant feed.

Common Valerian Valeriana Officinalis

In Europe, Valerian is taken as a tisane or herbal tea to calmthe nerves. In the 16 th century, it was common to place thedried roots among clean sheets. Cats love the smell of thisplant and appear to become intoxicated. A hardy perennialwith heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. Thisperennial flowers from June to August, and can grow to aheight of 1.2 metres.




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Devil's- Bit Scabious Succisa Pratensis

Its flowers are usually a lilac blue, but can sometimes veer

towards a pinky white. It's curious name comes from thestory that the devil bit off the root in anger when confrontingthe Virgin Mary, thus devils bite. This perennial can growto a height of 80 cm and flowers from June to October.

blue

Grass of Parnassus Parnassia Palustris

This lovely flower smells faintly of honey. It is believed thatan infusion of its leaves, aids digestion. This perennial cangrow to a height of 25 cm and flowers from July to October.

Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium Cannabinum

The leaves of this plant resemble those of the hemp, henceits common name. This beautiful wetland perennial grows upto 1.5 m tall, with layers of flowers in July through to Sept.

Lousewort Pedicularis Sylvatica

This name does not come from any preventative qualitiesthat the plant may have but from the old German mis-beliefthat it gave lice and liver-worms to cattle. Often found in bogsthis perennial can grow to a height of 20 cm and flowers fromApril to July.



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Marsh Cinquefoil Potentilla Palustris

This plant is distinct among other cinquefoils and tormentilsby having a purple rather than yellow flowers. This perennialcan grow to a height of 40 cm and flowers from May to July.

purple

Marsh Gentian Gentiana Pneumonanthe

The flowers of this plant are hermaphrodite (have both maleand female organs) and it relies for pollination on bothBumblebees and butterflies. The plant can be found in bothlight sandy and heavy clay soils but requires a well-drainedsituation but with moist soil.

Ragged Robin Lychnis Flos-Cuculi

This is a wonderful wild flower that will thrive on the dryedges of the bog garden. It's other names include the cuckooflower, Meadows Spink, Polly Baker, and shaggy jacks. Itproduces star shaped flowers with deep petals that can varyfrom purplish pink to white. This plant is a favourite of longtongue bumblebees.

purple/pink

Small Flowered WillowHerb

Epilobium Parviflorum

Similar to the Great Willow herb but as the name suggests,




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with smaller flowers and leaves. It also has long soft hairs onthe lower stem. Favouring stream sides it flowers from Julyto August.

Snake's Head Fritillary Fritollaria Meleagris

This native bulb is becoming quite rare in the wild, thoughoften found in gardens. A favourite snack for Squirrels. Itgrows to a height of 50cm and flowers from April to May.

Meadow Thistle Cirsium Dissectum

A native perennial that enjoys wet peat, this can grow to aheight of 60cm. It flowers from June to August.

Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia Vulgaris

The name loosestrife comes from the ancient belief that itprevented the strife between horses and oxen, that pulledthe same plough. Growing to just over a 1 metre in height itusually flowers from July through to August.



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Bluebell Endymion (or Hyacinthoides) Non-Scriptus

English Bluebell, perennial bulb. Despite its name it oftenoccurs with white and pink flowers. It grows to the height of50cm and flowers from April right through till June.

blue

Colts Foot Tussilago Farfara

This early flowering perennial prefers a sunny position butwill grow in woodland because it flowers early from May toJuly. Reaching a height of 30cm it bursts into life with aexplosion of blooms, often before its leaves have opened orfully developed. Native American Indians relied on a brothmade of its roots to alleviate coughs. It could often be seenas a symbol on the hanging signs of old apothecaries. Sow

seeds in Autumn or plant the rhizomes garnered from themother plant in October or the following February.

Early Purple Orchid Orchis Mascula

Found in woods, often along side bluebells. The double

ovoid tubers were often associated with fertility. Flowers fromApril to June and grows to a height of 50cm.

purple



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Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea

This plant is a biennial, so you will have to leave it to

colonise if you want more. Flowering in June, its richlymarked flowers are constantly visited by bumblebees insearch of its nectar. This is traditionally a fairy plant and itsother country name for is folk's gloves, because it's athimble shaped flowers resemble little mittens.Foliage may cause skin irritation.

Hedge WoundwortStachys Sylvatica

Unpleasant smelling, the leaves used to be used for healingwounds as it contains a volatile oil with antiseptic qualities.Growing to a height of 80cm, It flowers from May to August.

Herb Robert Geranium Robertianum

Identified by its distinctive leaf shape and flowers, it grows toa height of 45cm. Often found near walls, it flowers from theend of April, right the way through to October.

Lily of the Valley Convallaria Majalis

A native rhizome it is now quite rare in the wild. It can reacha height of 30 cm and flowers from may to June. In Germanfolklore it is believed that it grew on the ground at thecrucifixion of Christ, where Mary's tears touched the ground.The plant is susceptible to grey mould Botrytis.




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make an attractive house plant, again plant the bulbs outsideafter they have flowered.

Solomon Seal Polygonatum Multiforum

A native rhizome grown in gardens it can reach a height of70cm. The flowers were once used as an ingredient inmaking skin tonics. Flowers from May to June.

Spurge (Wood) Euphorbia Amygdaloides

This perennial flowers in its second year and reaches aheight of 75cm. Common in the South of England it flowersfrom March to May. The Sap is an irritant

*Caution* StinkingHellibore*

Helleborus Foetidus

Also known as Bear's foot or Dungwort it is poisonous tohumans and is foul smelling. It grows to a height of 80cmand flowers from March to April.

White Deadnettle Lamium Album

A perennial weed of the roadside it can grow to 50cm. It wasonce used as as a cure for coughs and it's young shootswere eaten like spinach. Flowers from March through toDecember.




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Wood Sorrel Oxalis Acetosella

This was often used as a salad plant and can grow to 15cm.It flowers from April to June and it's three-part leaves canoften be seen folded up.

Yellow Archangel (DeadNettle)

Lamiastrum Galeobdolon

This perennial often found in woods and clearings can bevery invasive if planted in a garden. It grows to a height of 50cm and flowers from May to June.

Field BorderersBefore fields were drenched in pesticides, many pretty wild-flowers could be found around its edges. These really havelearnt to grow on virtually nothing, no food, the poorer the soil

the better.You can even put in some broken bricks. Also, because theylove the rough life, you can rake up the top of the soil in thecontainer each winter with a small fork and they will comeback even more vigorously in the Spring.



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Field Poppy Papaver Rhoeas

This annual grows on disturbed ground to a height of 50cm.

The Goddess of the Crops, Ceres, was depicted with acirclet of poppies around her head. They flower from May toAugust.

Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea

This plant is a biennial, so you will have to leave it tocolonise if you want more. It's richly marked flowers areconstantly visited by bumblebees in June. This istraditionally a fairy plant and its other country name for isfolk's gloves, because it's a thimble shaped flowersresemble little mittens. Bees adore its nectar.Foliage may cause skin irritation.

Ox eye Daisy Leucanthemum Vulgare

Recommended in old herbals as an ingredient in curingchest problems this perennial can grow to 65cm. It Flowersfrom May to August.

Aaron's Rod Verbascum Thapsus

Growing up to 2 metres in height this biennial was often usedas a herbal tobacco. It flowers from June through to August.




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Corn Cockle Agrostemma Githago

An annual once widely established in Cornfields as the name

suggests. It can attain the height of 1 metre and flowers fromJune to August.

Field Cow Wheat Melampyrum Arvense

Another once prolific Corn Field flower it can grow to 40 cm.

This annual flowers from June to September and is similarto the highly coloured crested cow-wheat.

Sun Spurge Euphorbia Helioscopa

This annual grows to 45cm and flowers from April toOctober. Sap is an irritant

Teasel Dipsacus fullonum

Teasel can grow to over 2 metres in height and bees queueup for its pollen in August. It has small downward pointingprickles on its stem and distinctive spiny egg-shaped flowerheads. Rainwater becomes trapped in its leaf forks, wherebees often stop to drink. You may even have the pleasure ofwatching acrobatic small birds trying to drink as well. Teaselis an erect biennial that lives, flowers, produces seed andthen dies within two years.



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Red Clover

Something that needs a very special mention is Red Clover(Trifolium pratense) that also goes by the name of cowclover, meadow clover, wild clover. This vigorous sprawlinghardy perennial is a member of the Pea family and as suchcan provide a useful service of fixing nitrogen in the soil. Thismeans that it can be used as a green manure. If you aregrowing vegetables, plant clover on any empty ground. Afterit has flowered it can be dug in or cropped and composted to

improve the soil. Sown in March to June its wonderful redflowers are particularly loved and useful to bees.

What Flowers when?The next thing to take into consideration, is when the plantsactually produce their flowers. When you decide what flowers

you are going to grow, you will also have to make sure thatyou have some that flower at every time of the year.

It is important to plant flowers that bloom successively overthe spring, summer, and fall seasons in order to providepollen and nectar resources to the native bees at all times ofthe year. This is especially true during the winter months.

With ever-increasing changes in our normal weather pattern itis not abnormal to have spells of warm weather, in these coldmonths. Even in midwinter, when there is snow on theground, it is possible to have plants in flower. So even if thebees wake-up prematurely for a while, they can still find afood source.




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Plants that flower in winter, include some heathers, Christmasroses, primroses, snowdrops and winter aconite. Of course,

most plants flower between March and August. Here aresome of the more well known garden plants and when theyflower, attracting and feeding Bees.

March - April May - June July - August

AppleBluebellBroomBugleCherryErica carnea(heather)Flowering CurrantLungwort(Pulmonaria)PearPlumPussy WillowRed dead-nettleRosemaryWhite dead-nettle

AlliumsAquilegiaBirds-foot trefoilBugleBush vetchCampanulaCeanothusChivesComfreyCotoneasterEscallonia

Everlasting PeaEverlastingwallflowerFoxgloveGeranium

Black horehoundBorage

BrambleBuddleiaCardoonCatmint

CornflowerDelphinium

HeathersHollyhock

Hyssop

KnapweedLavender

Lesser burdockMarjoram



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Where to get your flowersWe have already seen how you can increase your stock ofplants by taking cuttings, with Wild-flowers you can use a

couple more methods.The seeds of the more common wild-flowers like foxglovescowslips can be bought in most garden centres, but the rangeof other wild flowers is usually small. You will find a far greaterselection available by mail order from specialist companies.Another way of course, is to get yourself a good field guideand try collecting the seeds you need from the wild. This is

quite a controversial subject, and has its supporters anddetractors.

In theory, most of these wild-flowers produce thousands ofseeds most of which will never germinate and grow. There isa strong conservation argument for collecting local seed andplanting them locally. This will help them to propagate andconserve the local species of wild-flower. In most cases,collecting a few seeds will have little or no impact on the plantpopulation.

However, to protect our dwindling wild flowers, strictconservation laws have already been passed. Before goingout collecting, remember that it is illegal to gather wild-flowersor their seeds from private land, nature reserves and all sitesof scientific interest. But in any case, never collect seedsfrom rare plants, from places where there are only a handfulof parent plants. Instead, confine your searches to roadverges and river banks.



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Collecting seedsCollecting your own seed requires patience. You need tocorrectly identify the plant species, and it will be necessary to

return at the right time of year when the flowers have setseed. Most wild flower seed is quite easy to collect. In mostcases, you can place a bag over the flower head and shake.In the case of the larger plants such as the those of thistle,simply pick up the mature seed heads with your fingers.

You will probably find it best to sow the seeds immediately, as

this is the time when they would naturally be broadcast by themother plants. Place them outside in seed trays as someseeds will not germinate without passing through cold winter.The seeds which you do not use straight away must be keptdry and cool until you sow them. Remember to carefullymake a note of what they are, when and where they werecollected, on the envelope.

Plant divisionPlant division is a really simple process and you can end upwith lots of new plants. Gently lift the whole clump out of theground and work out where you are going to make yourdivisions. This is best done at a time after the plant is finishedflowering.

Although some plants can be teased apart with a garden forkwith most plants, you will need to use some sharp secateurs,and even a very sharp spade on larger clumps. Clean themup and trim any damaged roots. Carefully plant back theoriginals and replant the new plants with a little organic




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fertiliser and water in well. Remember that if the weather ishot to keep your new plants shaded for a few days.

Plants for freeSurprisingly, the quickest way I have found of getting someplants for free, is to give away some of my own plants toneighbours and friends. We all have something we can divideor has self seeded that we can give away. Let people knowwhat you are trying to do, and in no time at all, you will havemore flowers and plants being given to you than you knowwhat to do with!

Please make your garden poison freeFor the last 60 years there has been a tendency to gardenersto follow farmers methods and try to snuff out of existenceanything that nibbles the veg or makes a hole in a plant. It is

certainly effective in the short term, but it is a worrying statisticthat in that 60 years since we have been dowsing ourGardens in chemical pesticides, pest problems have actuallygot worse.

The trouble with using chemicals, is that they are oftenharmful to the environment and other wildlife. Pesticides are

rarely selective and are not very good at just killing thenuisance you are trying to get rid of, they tend to also kill awide range of beneficial insects. The poisons we use to killslugs also kill beneficial ground beetles. You may successfullyrid a plant for the season of greenfly, but you will also destroyall the hover (flower) flies as well.



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The other problem is that of knowledge. Many of the speciesof insects, we persecute are not actually that harmful to our

gardens or can be more effectively controlled by using othermethods such as natural predation, encouraging the nextspecies up the food chain to eat more of them.

The real damage that insects do is in spreading viruses. Thenagain, a strong healthy plant can defend itself but if it is weakor unhealthy, it is more likely to contract a disease. Natural

immunity is your plants only defence, so your own first line ofdefence against pests and disease is to make sure that theyare fed and watered properly and are suited to where youhave planted them in the garden.

Given time, the garden will find a natural balance that you cangently affect to your benefit. The friendly predators in your

garden that feed on these pests, decline rapidly when youdestroy their food source. With less natural enemies, thepests in your garden increase in population at a much greatrate. This often means a minor problem turns into a majorinfestation. The usual reaction is to use more chemicals,which in turn aggravates the situation and becomes a viciouscircle.

As people become more aware of environmental issues therehas been a tendency for agro-chemical companies to promoteorganic pesticides as a green alternative. These are just asharmful, killing everything they touch. It is far better for yourgarden, its inhabitants, and you, if you rely on nature's ownmethods. Above all, it works better.




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Contrary to popular belief, ants do not do much damage toflowers and crops. One of the main problems that gardeners

have with ants is that they run a sort of protection racket withaphids. In return for harvesting, the honey dew that the aphidsproduce, the ants will protect them from attacks by ladybirds.

If you plant yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) in your garden, notonly does its flowers attract many beneficial insects, includingparasitic wasps and ladybirds that target aphids, it is also

believed to increase the health of nearby plants. If it is grownwith herbs it is said to increase their flavour. It is an excellentactivator for your compost and ants will not go near thecrushed leaves of the plant, which can be used as a naturalorganic deterrent.

Another way to deter pests from visiting your patio boxes or

window boxes, is the use of barriers. Many gardeners believethat slugs can be dissuaded by the sharp edges of crushedeggshells. You can also try covering plants with cut downplastic bottles and mulch around the base of the plants withstraw.

With a bit of research you can find a natural solution for

almost every problem. One thing to remember is that yourgarden does not exist in isolation. If at all possible, try andshow your neighbours, on either side, the benefits of usingthese natural methods.




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Companion PlantingWe mentioned earlier about companion planting, where twoor more different plants, planted together and benefit each

other. You can also use this method to deal with pests. Thisis done by planting those species that attract predatoryinsects, or will camouflage the vulnerable plant. Since thepest cannot find the plants to feed or lays eggs, their numbersare reduced.

Basil could prove your best friend if you are troubled by flies

and mosquitoes, as it repels them and is great in the kitchenwindow or by your chairs on the patio. It also grows well withtomatoes and protects them. We have already mentioned thatBees love Borage but so do strawberries that seem to thrive ifplanted with it. Garlic repels red spider mites (as dogeraniums) and again is good for tomatoes and fruit trees.

Oregano is know to repel cucumber beetle. Hyssop can beplanted in areas of the garden you want to discourage anyinsects, as it is a general insect repellent - particularly goodagainst white butterfly. So this would make a good companionfor planting with cabbages.

Lavender will attract Bees and Butterflies but deter moths, liceand even mice. Most Mints deter fleas, ants, cabbage butterflyand mice, although you should never plant it near Parsley asthey make bad neighbours. Rue not only repels flies but canalso be used to deter dogs and cats. If you do have pets, thenTansy is their friend. It repels ants, flies, moths but especially



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fleas! You can crush the leaves in your hand and rub on toyour pet's fur to deter fleas.

Probably, the star of the show is the humble Wormwood plantthat is hated by Slugs and Snails. Most gardeners at sometime have a problem with these two pests but there is no needto resort to poisoning everything in the garden with Slugpellets. Just scattering the leaves of the plant around candissuade them from that area.

Other things you can doIf you can allow a patch of grass to grow long somewhere inyour garden and have densely planted areas in yourflowerbed. This will provide bees and other insects withshelter from the rain and give them somewhere to rest if thereis a sudden drop in temperature.

You can also encourage bees into your garden by installingbee boxes. Solitary bees will make their individual nests intrees or near the ground in shady areas of your garden. If youcan, leave some dead wood, leaf litter, and dead stems incorners of your garden where they will not be disturbed.

Fences, walls with old mortar and earth banks under hedgesare important nesting habitats for bees. You will also findother insects and spiders using them to warm up in the earlymorning sun. if you fill old plant pots with moss and lay themon their sides, you will more than likely find that the bees willhibernate in them.




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Try and make sure there's some water in your garden to forthe wildlife. This can be a wildlife pond, or just a shallow dishof water with some stones in it to help creatures climb in andout.Be careful not to leave unwashed honey jars that you boughtfrom the supermarket in your garden. If it is not locallyproduced, and the chances are that it has come fromoverseas it could contain bacteria and spores that are harmfulto the local bees. This could have terrible co

Save the Bees

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