The Garden – An Oasis For The Bees

Everyone loves to see a beautiful planted garden with its´ bright colours and scents that waft on the wind and sooth and relax us, but did you know that a well planted garden is an oasis to the humble bee.

Bees are familiar visitors to our garden and for the nature conscious are a welcome sight. Some however dread the thought of bees in the garden because of the fear of being stung, but bees are vital to a functioning ecosystem as they are important pollinators of many plants, such as apples, pears, strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes, beans, peas to name but a few.

It is a known fact that 30% of our food is pollinated by bees, but unfortunately they are suffering a decline in recent years due to the loss of flower-rich habitats and of course the use of pesticides. There is no need to fear the bee, as those found in the UK are docile and will only sting if they are trapped.

Bees will travel a long way from their hive to find pollen and nectar and can be seen during any month of the year on warmer days and a ‘good’ garden can be buzzing with life on a sunny day.

Without even knowing it the ardent gardener is attracting the honey bee, bumble bee, together with other insects and birds which will be attracted to perennials plants such as dahlias, foxglove, geraniums, roses, to name but a few, also to herbs including fennel, mints, rosemary, sage, and of course the old favourite in most English gardens lavender plants. There is a stunning variety of English lavender plant that gives a wonderful display of large lilac flowers over long slender silver green stems not forgetting the strong scent that fills the air which attracts bees and other beneficial insects.

Gardening is becoming the nations most popular and fulfilling hobby and gardeners are not just conforming to the ‘normal’ way of planting. Instead they are planting vegetables plants in amongst garden shrubs, bedding plants, and garden bulbs. Almost anything is now grown as container plants and it is now not unusual to see strawberries as hanging basket plants because in today’s garden anything goes.

A spokesman for Blooming Direct an online horticultural business on the Island of Jersey said, “yes, gardening has become more popular over the years and whereas years ago a simple lawn would suffice now gardeners are experimenting with different species of plants and colours. It would seem that every inch of garden is planted with a selection of beautiful flowers”, he went on to say “we pride ourselves on the fact that we can provide any plant, tree, shrub, or packet of garden seeds to our customers, and if resident in the UK shipped out to them FREE in plug plant format so they will arrive in pristine condition”.

Just think for one moment that when you are planting your garden with beautiful plants you are also providing an oasis for the honey bee, bumble bee, and other beneficial insects, and why not, they are the important pollinators of many plants.

For further information visit: www.bloomingdirect.com

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