The Royal Horticultural Society has just launched the “Perfect for Pollinators Plant List” which is designed to enable gardeners to choose the best flowers and plants for insects, bees and butterflies, those all-important garden pollinators.
The Royal Horticultural Society has just launched the “Perfect for Pollinators Plant List” which is designed to enable gardeners to choose the best flowers and plants for insects, bees and butterflies, those all-important garden pollinators.
Gardeners are being encouraged to ditch the “fashionable” plants of today’s gardens with their showy, large and colourful flowers which are often infertile or so crowded with petals that insects and bees find it difficult to reach the pollen and nectar. Instead of these gardeners are being urged to plant primroses, dahlias and wild roses which are rich with nectar and pollen. Other insect friendly plants are hydrangeas, thyme and lavender.
Lavender plants are truly versatile for any garden whatever its size and are excellent for edging paths and borders. Another bonus is the perfume that is released when you brush against the aromatic foliage. Some may feel that lavender plants belong to a more “old fashioned” era of garden design but they can bring a garden bang up to date when clipped into a formal sphere for a contemporary look. Every garden really should include some lavender bushes as they keep themselves neat and tidy with only an annual pruning required. They are also very resistant to drought – an important factor as British Summers are becoming drier. Of even more importance is the fact that the flowers of lavender plants are also highly attractive to bees and butterflies.
There cannot be a gardener in the land who is not aware of the importance of the humble bumblebee and its role as pollinator and keen gardeners know that their gardens can offer vital havens for these unsung heroes. Unfortunately in the last 70 years two of the 24 UK bumblebee species have become extinct. In fact, bee numbers the world over are now in serious decline and experts are predicting that this may lead to an increase in food prices as it is more difficult to grow fruit and vegetable plants if there is nothing to pollinate them.
A spokesman for Blooming Direct, a horticultural online business on the Island of Jersey, said “we are very aware of the need to entice bees and insect pollinators into every garden and are encouraging all our website visitors to “love lavender”. We are currently providing a special offer on the purchase of 5 lavender plants so that gardeners can fill their gardens with this lovely plant thus ensuring that nectar loving bees and insects can continue with their essential work of pollination.”
So next time you are looking for a new addition for your garden look no further than the gorgeous blue hues of the lavender plant which will not only provide colour, shape and perfume but will also provide a feast for the humble bumblebee. A good place to start your search may well be with Blooming Direct and their “love lavender” campaign. Alternatively look for the “bee friendly” label that is shaped like a bee on plants in your local garden centre to help you choose the best plants for bees and butterflies for your garden.
For further information visit: www.bloomingdirect.com or you can visit their Facebook page to discover more offers.