Green Fingers: The garden is still buzzing
The good weather at this time of year provides extra food for the many beneficial creatures of the natural world.
This has been an enjoyable autumn and it is still giving, and we have benefitted along with other living animals, including insects.
The good weather at this time of year gives us an extension with beautiful flowers, berries and autumn colours, as well as providing extra food for the many beneficial creatures of the natural world.
I find insects fascinating but am not that devoted that I love them dearly, and am certainly not fond of the recent wasp plague.
After that, I am happy enough to look closely at them now and then. One recent look-a-like wasp, but was not, was happily preening itself and able to move its head 140 degrees around while doing so. How wonderful to observe nature close at hand. Try it sometime.
The panda is the symbol of the ‘World Wildlife Fund’ and used to illustrate the need to save animals from extinction, and the bee is the symbol used to save our pollinating insects, without which we would be in a pretty desperate state. There is still an impression that bees are the only pollinating insects, whereas there are many more that do the same job and they are all in danger of decline. We need a change of attitude and practices in how we treat our living insect partners.
We like bees because they give us honey, which is not exactly true as we take some of their honey and manage them, just as we do with farm animals. With us having a plant nursery means that there is plenty of food for insects, so we are literally alive with numerous insects and we live in harmony with them. They do not sting or annoy us and can fly all around our faces. Our feeling is that waving a newspaper does not distract them and only tells them you are looking for attention!
Like the small birds and other animals, all pollinating insects depend on what the countryside offers in the way of food, shelter and a place in which to raise their young. Gardens are only a small part of the countryside but as habitats become scarce the importance of gardens increases, and while the individual garden may be small, the collective value of their quantity scattered around the country is huge.
We as homeowners can help by first planting what we find attractive but go where possible for those types that attract these beneficial pollinators also.
The basic rules are to include plants with single flowers that easily allow insects to access nectar.
Shades of blue through to lilac flowers are particularly popular so these would include foxgloves, catmint, salvia and lavender. Most herbs are very good, such as thyme, rosemary, oregano and chives.
I think the trick is to choose a broad spectrum of plants that span something all year with lots of colour for us and also that are good for our pollinating insects.
Finally, do include some of those winter flowering plants in case there are mild spells and the insects emerge out for a breath of fresh air, and you have something for them.
Strawberries are a fun crop to grow, easily pleasing in their ability to give you delicious berries within a week of planting.
If happy, they will have produced loads of small new plants (runners) and these can be put into small pots to grow on and be ready to replant in spring for next year’s crop.
Winter onion sets and garlic can be planted in the next few months.
