Wildlife Garden Progress (7)

I manage my garden to help provide food and habitats for bees and other insects. Every few months I record the habitats and flowers so I can compare over the years. The Cowslips are just coming into full bloom in the front grassed area while the woodland area Primroses are still in bloom. I added some Grape hyacinths and Anemones around the trees for nectar feeders. The most popular plants with bees are Comfrey and Dandelions - conveniently seeded in various parts of the garden. The Kingcups around the pond attract various flies. In the shadier areas, there are Hedge garlic, Yellow archangel and Celandines while the main bed at the bottom of the garden is full of Red Campion and Foxgloves this year

Warm Temperatures and Wildflowers

Our recent high temperatures (16 degrees yesterday ) are having an effect on the flowering plants including many of the wild species in my garden. I record every year what is out in my garden on March 21st and spring has certainly been getting earlier and earlier. This year, flowering is also extending into the late autumn. There were hoverflies around today and even some active greenfly on some plants.

Report 5 on Wildlife Garden

I have been documenting how my garden has progressed after redesigning areas at the beginning of 2020. Everything is now dying down with most of the wildflowers long finished flowering and their seed all dispersed. The meadow/lawn was given a strim in early October and Yellow Rattle seed sowed hoping for some plants next year to help control the grass. I have cut any areas where flowering has finished and left the seed heads to disperse in situ, having collected some seed from all the different species to distribute to other areas. This results in a very untidy look for a couple of months but does ensure good dispersal for next year. I include 1 image from July to show how it looked and the last image is the view from the garden of a Buzzard warming up in the morning sun.

Progress Report 4 on Wildlife Garden

Wildflower gardens are at their best in May - June and, by beginning of July, are beginning to go to seed. I still have ragwort, purple loosestrife, sneezewort, cornflowers, wild parsnips, marigolds, oxeye daisies,  cornflowers, corn marigolds, yarrow, white and yellow bedstraw, nettle and corncockle are still flowering.

 

Wildflower Project 8

Second post of July's flowers - Long-headed Poppy, Purple Loosestrife, Common Knapweed, Yellow Bedstraw, Feverfew, Wall Bedstraw, Hawkbit, Ragwort, Bristly Oxtongue, Teasel, Carrot, Yellow Loosestrife, Geum, Procumbent Yellow Sorrel