Companion thugs

Evening all.

As we keep bees, I try to grow large swathes of flowers that will provide pollen/nectar for the 8 hives we have in the garden.  I am lucky enough to garden on just under an acre ... so have plenty of space for what I call my "thugs".   Over the last few years I have been experimenting with "companion thugs" ... things that will extend the seasons for the bees ... and also look good together.   Some successful companion thug plantings so far include Muscari latifolium (the two-tone one) with Astilbie chinensis pumila ... providing great early/ late season pollen. At the moment native primroses are happily battling it out with Ajuga reptans and both looking lovely under a large oak before the canopy closes in. Later in the year Geranium 'Ann Folkard' will be sprawling between self-sown orange Welsh poppies and usefully hiding the dying daffodil foliage beneath. In the bog garden Filipendula purpurea shares a space with candelabra primulas. They will be providing a useful nectar source after the primulas have done their thing.   I'd love to hear of any other "2 in a bed "planting schemes you have grown.