Be Friendly #2

Plants for heading into Autumn

Autumn is starting to make it’s presences known and I thought it was time to highlight a few plants that are supporting the bees in the garden at the moment. The focus for the bees has moved from honey harvest (summer) to building the hives supplies for the winter. Gardens can offer a huge support in this activity and I must admit the garden has been busy of late. So here are 5 plants that my bees are loving in the garden right now.

Eutrochium Maculatum

or as a Instagram buddy informed me Cristal crisp which seems like a great name for this. It is my first year having this one in the garden and it stands tall in one of my trial bed - the old veg garden,( trial bed sounds fancier than it is, in short it means I am running out of space in the garden). This is a beautiful plant and such a lovely colour and I can wait to use it in future gardens. I have other Eutrochium in the garden but this deep crimson is my favourite. I had noticed the bees on it a number of times and I was so excited to watch bees, bumbles and butterflies enjoying it together in the weekend. It is a tall plant and would work well in the back of a bed providing quiet support in the background and much needed bee food as we head into Autumn.

Sedum

If there was one bee friendly plant that I would suggest growing it is sedum. It is an easy grow and the bees are mad for it. I have what I call little forests of it sprinkled through out the garden and as other focal flowers start to fade towards the end of summer this one provides some added colour to the flower beds. It thrives in poor soil and is easy to divide - simply break a stem off and plonk it in a glass of water, you will have roots sprouting in no time. Medium sized plant and one that looks stunning growing in a mass.

Cosmos

Cosmos is more a summer flower but I’ve included it as it is one that continues on and on and on if you do one bee friendly gardening tip. Deadhead. Deadheading plants that are bee friendly encourages further flowering and extending the season which I love - more flowers for me to admire but it also offers more variety for bees as we head to winter. Bees are like humans and need a varied diet so keep on top of the dead heading to encourage your annuals such as cosmos to keep flowering.

Echinops

My echinops have been amazing this summer. I have planted a few over the years and they are now established plants and boy did they enjoy the dry weather. It is one I would call a super bloom and much like the first two plants on my list I often seem them covered in bees. Most echinops are blue, a favourite colour of bees but I have added a white one this year which I might take the seed from and have an attempt to grow from seed. I do tend to leave the seed heads in the garden as they look lovely as we headed to autumn with their structural flower heads fading from blue to grey. Another medium sized plant height wise.

Herbs

I grow a lot of herbs in the garden using them as a background plant as they do tend to have interesting and beautiful foliage that comes in various shades of green and silver. I’ve planted herbs in masses, often in one bed adding in focal plants and I have found this season they have kept the garden going, flowering well despite the dry summer. Herbs for me are a quick win and for bees a favourite. Pictured above is a mint but I’ve seem masses of bees on lemon balm, orengo, rosemary to name a few. You do need to do your homework on spread, because some, such as this mint will take off in your garden if not kept in check.