The Frome Selwood Horticulture Society welcomed Alan and Gill Wells from Longhope at a recent monthly talk, when he spoke on Gardening for Bees.
The society reports, “Alan’s knowledge was boundless, as was his respect for this tiny insect, which makes up a third of all pollinators.
“Alan supported his talk with marvellous photography, before giving his “Five Simple Rules for Gardening for Bees”.
1. Avoid buying for eye andy satisfaction. Pretty double headed flowers are pretty useless for bees, he said! These flowers are often sterile whether or not the long bee probus can actually access the pollen.
2. Plant for many flowers in a small space; prairie planting is impractical, so chose plants with many flowers: Verbena, Hebe, Escalonia as examples.
3. Avoid tight mowing and tidiness: bees love to forage. Learn to love dandelions, ajuga and clover as a source of food and colour, not as a weed to be eradicated.
4. Look at the flower form and watch the bee at work. The 6 inch long probus will collect nectar from trumpet form flowers like the Daphne, as well as bowl shaped hellebores, aster daisy’s’, Arum’s, sweet peas and particularly Buddleia.
5. Plant in drifts for all seasons. Whether annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs, even trees, vegetables and herbs. Think about the flowers and the harvest. And when we enjoy the harvest thank the bee who had pollinated the flower in the first place.
A recipe book with sumptuous honey recipes completed the talk. Frank Norman gave the Vote of Thanks.
The FSHS meets every second Tuesday at Critchill School, BA11 4LD. Doors close at 7.25pm for a 7.30pm start. New members and visitors welcome, for a small fee. Contact Jane on 0777 620 8531 or visit FSHS Facebook
The Annual FSHS Plant Sale is on Saturday, 25th May 2019. Doors open at 0930. Selwood Academy, Berkley Road, BA11 2EF.
Above: Alan Wells and wife & FSHS Chairman, Ray Carver
