Plant some bulbs for busy bees
Bulb planting time is here again – where on earth does the year go? It’s the annual autumn event that can divide people; either it’s a chore, or you just love this most straightforward but rewarding of jobs. I’m in the second camp, as I always think bulbs give so much more than they take in effort and upkeep.
Glorious flowers of course, and a succession of seasonal colour, but if you choose wisely you can keep wildlife in mind, too, which is always worth it. In fact, many bees, once they emerge from hibernation from as early as January and early February, completely rely on the flowers they find for sustenance, so it’s down to us to make it nice and easy for them.
I’ll be planting bulbs anywhere and everywhere this autumn – in small pots, big pots, borders, barrels and beds. Anywhere I can squeeze a few more in, I will! I love the excitement early spring bulbs bring; there’s always an element of surprise and joy, too – particularly if I’ve forgotten about a few.
Snowdrops and winter aconites are obvious candidates, followed by species crocuses like C. tommasinianus, which blooms from February. Simple, unbred types are more appealing to bees, such as lovely snake’s head fritillaries and Anemone blanda. The same goes for our wild species daffodil, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, which has valuable pollen in spring. That’s not to say bred plants won’t attract bees, of course, and I’ll be planting lots of narcissus ‘Minnow’ again this year, as well as tulip ‘Lilac Wonder’ and crocus ‘Ruby Giant’. Varieties with a strong scent can also be an indication of a good nectar supply, as well as those with readily visible stamens, loaded with pollen.
I’ll be going to Malvern Autumn Show this month; a wonderful event that always has the best bulb suppliers. I’ve also found an organic and pesticide-free bulb supplier online, www. naturalbulbs.co.uk, which sells ‘bee buffet’ bulb collections. If this doesn’t get you excited for spring I don’t know what will!