Bees are more important to natures ecosystem than many of us realise.
With the recent influx of new homes in Lowton, Warrington and the near by surrounding areas unfortunately, bee populations have been declining in recently due to habitat loss and it is important that we make every effort to fight for them and plant what we can to replace that for them. Bee's play a vital role by pollinating plants, including those that produce food for us.. As avid gardeners, we can help by planting flowers that provide bees with the nectar and pollen they need to survive.
We have put together a list of the best flowers to plant in your garden (at next to no cost) to encourage the bumble bee to keep pollinating, give it the nectar it needs and help keep our ecosystem thriving. These will more than likely be available at your local Farm Shop or Garden Center and are really easy to grow and maintain.
Lavender
Lavender is a favorite of both bees and us humans for its relaxing scent and beautiful purple blooms. Bees are particularly attracted to lavender's long blooming period, which lasts from late spring to late summer. Plant lavender in well-drained soil and full sun, and be sure to prune it back in the autumn to encourage healthy growth next year.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers do not only make you smile and easy to grow, but they're also a favorite of bees. Sunflowers produce incredible amounts of pollen and nectar, making them an important food source for bees. Choose a variety with single blooms, as bees have difficulty accessing the nectar in double blooms. Plant sunflowers in full sun and well-drained soil, and be sure to deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering throughout the summer.
Wildflowers
Planting a mix of wildflowers is an excellent way to provide bees with a diverse and nutritious food source. Choose a mix that includes flowers with different bloom times, such as black-eyed susans, coneflowers, and purple coneflowers. Plant wildflowers in full sun and well-drained soil, and be sure to water them regularly until they're established.
By planting flowers that provide bees with the nectar and pollen they need, we can help support bee populations and maintain a healthy ecosystem. Lavender, sunflowers, and wildflowers are just a few of the flowers that bees love. When planning your garden, consider including a variety of flowers with different bloom times to provide bees with a continuous food source throughout the growing season.
At Grange Farm we are making every effort to protect and encourage the bee's to make a home here, our farm shop is stocked with flowers that they love for you to take home and our fields are scattered with wildflowers where possible. Not only that but we also have a sunflower patch whenever we can and we are in talks with the local council with regards to them using our land to create even more space to encourage the bee's to stay amongst other wildlife too!
Our honey bees live close to our Pumpkin Patch and pollinate from the pumpkin flowers, they make the most amazing local honey. We sell it every year in our farm shop, although it is well sought after and sell's like hot cakes! If you manage to get your hands on a jar, let us know what you think!
Happy planting!! ps. please do let us know if you use the advise above to encourage the bees to your garden by tagging us in your posts or popping us a message. We would love to know!