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growing wildflowers for bees and butterflies

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    Hi ffb, front right just under a large divided leaf I can see achillea (yarrow) just coming out, I can see the leaves as well so if that's what the others are, that's yarrow. 

    I was given something I've been after for ages today. A friend has just moved house and has some of those big yellow brandy bottle water lilies. He waded in and got me some out. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    And those corn marigolds look splendid



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Thanks Nutcutlet - it's great you've identified it for me.  I'm pleased you like

    my marigolds and will make sure you get plenty of seeds.  On looking at the

    wildflower garden this afternoon, I decided my best option was to pull out most

    of the yarrow as it is taking it over and I don't want it to swamp the other flowers.

    I felt very guilty doing it as it's so pretty but there would have been zillions of

    seeds if I'd left it.  However, if you would like some seeds I have left a couple

    of plants, but I expect you have to be careful with it, like cow parsley - I seem to

    remember you told me that can be invasive if you leave too much of it to its

    own devices!!  So pleased you've got your lillies Nutcutlet - well done!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I'm OK for yarrow thanks, I don't have a problem with invasiveness as it grows in the rough tarmac and short grass/weeds that is my drive. I don't get that mny flowers but it carries on spreading.

    I hope the water lilies will take, I haven't had much success with them previously but they were cultivated ones donated by other friends. I've got 2 pieces in pots and when my fisherman's waders are delivered I'll get in and plant them deeper in the pond in the mud at the bottom. the other piece I've put straight in the mud and pegged it down with a forked stick. I'll keep an eye on them, they do like to float off



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • I love water lillies, but have to be content seeing them in the wild, as I

    don't have any ponds.  When they get going for you would love to see a

    photo!!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I'll take one. I should have taken a photo of them being pulled out. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Great!  I look forward to that!  Sorry if my posts are a bit erratic at

    the moment - I'm besieged by grandchildren wanting to go places!

    I'm trying very hard to get my eight year old grandson interested in

    gardening and so far he quite likes it, especially when he sees the

    flowers growing, as he helped me sow the seeds.  

  • GardenmaidenGardenmaiden Posts: 1,126

    Echinops (globe thistle) the purple and the white flowering varieties are very good for bees. Mine are covered in them as soon as they open. Lavender and shasta daisies are good too.

  • Thanks Gardenmaiden - I have lots of lavender, but no globe thistles or shasta

    daisies, so will try those too (maybe have the shasta daisies in my garden

    rather than wildflower garden though as I don't think they are wild flowers?

  • Hi Nutcutlet,,

    Today I found another wildflower growing amongst my cornflowers, cornmarigolds

    and poppies - I haven't a clue what it is and wonder if you could tell me please?

     I'll post two photos for you to see, but they'll have to be seperate as I don't seem

    to be able to figure out how to send them together!  It's the purple flower - not

    image

    many of them have come out yet, but there are a lot of buds.

    There's no rush with this Nutcutlet, just wanted to send you a

    picture.  Have a lovely weekend! 

     

     

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