As we approach High Summer in arid Essex, I am delighted to see that here we absolutely do not have any shortage of Honey Bees, Bumble Bees and other beneficial parasitic wasps etc. All bees need a plentiful supply of both nectar and pollen. I strongly recommend that everyone should consider planting bee friendly plants in a corner of their garden. Not just the well known Lavender or Borage, but also some of the other forgotten single flowered Cottage Garden favourites. Or just allow the weeds grow a bit in a sacrificial corner.

A short walk through my unkempt flower beds this morning showed a huge activity from all sorts of bees. Unfortunately my ipad was not sophisticated enough to capture all these amazing insects in glorious technicolour. But believe me, these plants are right now positively alive with bees of all sorts. At least four different species of Bumble Bees, Honey Bees and various beneficial parasitic wasps.

It just goes to show that the simplest, most old-fashioned single flowered plants appear to be the best. And no insecticidal sprays here!

And this is even before the Lavender, Buddleias and Borage come into flower!

Don’t forget to plant some of the very valuable scented winter flowering shrubs such as Winter Box, Winter Honeysuckle, Viburnum, Daphne, Witch hazel, Wintersweet, Mahonias, as well as all the bulbs such as snowdrops, crocus, iris, daffodils, bluebells and tulips.