Bee Friendly Garden
By Mark Dowling, CEHL Co-op Development Coordinator
With spring coming to an end and the long hot days of summer fast approaching, many of my annuals I planted have flowered and are turning to seed. During this time my thoughts turn to other plants that produce lots of pollen and give off an odour that attracts bees and increases nectar and honey production.
Foraging honeybees (Apis mellifera) are our gardens unsung heroes and are our main pollinators. Theyremain a vital part of both the human and animal food chains. Bees are also an important link for a healthy and happy garden by providing biotic pollination. Biotic pollination occurs as bees fly from one flower to another collecting pollen. This ensures flower constancy, which aids genetic transmission and diversity within and between flower species. Honeybees exhibit a liking for conspecific plant species, which means that they have a preference for certain flower types and constantly return even if other more rewarding flowers are available. So, the aim is to plant specific flower species in your garden that will assist you in creating a bee friendly garden.
Honeybees are attracted to specific colours, especially blue, purple and yellow. Consequently, to attract bees to your garden and maintain good pollination of your vegetables, it’s easy to start with some thoughtful garden design and planting that is both functional and attractive.
Right now, is the time to plant perennials like:
- Sedum
- Coneflowers
- Clover
- Lavender
- Salvia
- Borage
- Bergamot
These are hardy and when established require little maintenance and with adding a little compost and mulching they will grow and seed over several years.
There are also bee friendly flower seed mixes available from some nurseries that include:
- Calendula
- Cornflower
- Californian Poppy
- Fineflower
- Toadflax
- Alyssum
- Wallflower and
- Nemophila
These plants will flower throughout summer with regular watering and fertilising, using a natural seaweed-based or organic fertiliser.
Other native plants that are also attractive to both European and native bees include:
- Abelia grandiflora- Abelia
- Buddleja- Butterfly Bush
- Callistemon – Bottlebrush
- Eucalyptus and Angophora Myrtaceae - species of the myrtle family of gum trees
- Grevillea - Spider Flower
- Leptospermum Tea Tree
These are but a few of the plants that will bring delight to honey and native bees for more information about bee friendly gardens visit www.diggers.com.au/sho...
Having a bee friendly garden will enrich your experience of nature and the important role of bees in pollination and maintaining the genetic diversity and beauty of all flowering plants.