Addicted to Bees

Use the latest research to grow the very best plants to support our precious pollinators. Ongoing research at the University of Bristol has shown that one echinops flower has as much nectar as 32 cosmos flowers

Lamb’s ears is a magnet for bees, especially the wool carder bee

Look out for the leaf-cutter bees in your June garden. You might notice the notches on your rose leaves.

Many herbs, like borage are fantastic plants for pollinators. The flowers are generously rich in nectar. It’s easy to grow from seed and a great bee plant.

Here’s a great way to learn more about solitary bees. Listen in to the Wildlife World Community Podcast where Jean Vernon and Professor Jeff Ollerton talk about solitary bees

The Ashy Mining bee is just one of the 65 or so Andrena species in the UK. These are the ground nesting bees that excavate their nests in close mown areas of the lawn, bare soil and sunny banks.

The Hairy Footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) is one of the earliest emerging solitary bees. By the end of February and into early March the male of the species climbs out of his egg chamber and into the sunlight.

The first bumblebees we see in late winter and early spring are the overwintered Queen bees setting up a nest

Look out for honeybees feeding on your winter flowering shrubs and early flowering plants.

In November 2020, Jean Vernon was awarded a very prestigious award from The Garden Media Guild for her writing about bees