'Where the bee sucks, there suck I,
In a cowslip's bell I lie'
William Shakespeare (sung by the faery Ariel in The Tempest)
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| Photo by Lisa Jones |
Did you know bees are essential for the production of one third of the food we eat? That's one in every 3 mouthfuls - so it is important we do all we can to help them. One simple thing we can do is to plant pollen rich plants for the bees to enjoy. It may not be the right time of year to plant cowslips but there are lots of plants we can use to create a beautiful bee-friendly faery garden, including herbs as well as flowers.
Simply find a corner of your garden (or use a large pot ot tub) and plant some seeds or plants such as those in the link above. If you are starting your garden from seed you may want to cover the pot with a sheet of clear polythene to encourage them to grow. It means waiting a little longer but it is exciting to see the seedlings appear. In the meantime you can collect some little decorations the faeries may find attractive such as pretty stones and shells. You could even turn a flower pot upside down and sit the saucer on top for a mushroom house.
You may be surprised to know that some of the plants that attract bees (and faeries) may already be growing on your lawn - including primroses, clover, daisies and dandelions. You could make your whole lawn a faery garden by allowing it to grow long! If this isn't possible you could rescue some of these plants from your lawn and replant them in your faery garden. Have fun.
Click here for more info on gardening for bees.
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