It occurred to me the other day that our garden is hardly ever without a bee at the moment. In the past, when we've only had fruit, vegetables and herbs, things for bees have been in short supply. It's been so lovely having bees buzzing around all the time, it really has added something to the garden. I think from now on I'll try and make sure bee-friendly flowers are always interspersed amongst the vegetables.
I've noticed that some of the food plants are great for bees too, particularly raspberries, oregano, chives, marjoram and beans. The last picture is an artichoke flower. The bees seem to absolutely adore them, and they spend ages poking around deep down inside the flower until their little fluffy bodies are covered in pollen. Bee heaven I think. I'm all for helping these amazing and industrious creatures, that are so essential to our way of life. Things for bees will be at the top of my growing list for next year.
I am with you friend!!! We have nothing without our bee friends! Now I just wish folks would stop spraying chemicals to keep bees healthy and safe. Your flowers are gorgeous!!!! That mix is fantastic..did you order them online??? What an inspiring patch friend! Happy weekend! Nicole xo
ReplyDeleteI've just read your scooter "mishap" post. That is really cr@ppy :( My youngest broke her wrist a few years ago, the week after my own cast on my own broken wrist was removed. Not the best summer that year. Hope your boy's leg heals quickly. it sounds really painful,awkward and generally flipping annoying.
ReplyDeleteOn a happier note - I continue to be in awe of the card houses. Does he not get cross if/when it collapses ? Any of my 3 would go ballistic!!
Such lovely pictures, CJ. I think it's so important to inspire kids to garden and allowing kids to choose what they will grow is the first step. Our bachelor buttons are always buzzing with bees, and we have a hummingbird coming every day. The kids get so excited when they spot it. I will do the same and plant flowers amongst the edibles next year.
ReplyDeleteThe fourth flower from the bottom is really interesting. Good for you with the bees. Here in the U.S., our bees are having a hard time of it.
ReplyDeleteSome lovely photos, the flowers in your garden are truly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, pretty! I love to hear bees buzzing around when I'm gardening and the kids (on the whole) have learned to leave them alone and to be cautious but not scared. I'd intended to grow a lot more annuals this year but the lack of water has put paid to that - it's only with the recent deluges that my calendula have finally started flowering! My globe artichoke is looking a bit dead (lack of water, again) so I'm hoping that as it's a perennial it will spring back to life next year! (Although looking at it, that might be a bit optimistic.) C xx
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful as well as good for the bees, you have inspired me to do the same next year. Perhaps I should let the children take charge as I tend to kill anything that flowers ;)
ReplyDeleteThe cardoon flowers are the same and I spend ages with camera poised waiting for them to come out or I end up with lots of photos of bees bottoms.
ReplyDeleteI seem to have missed your earlier post - how horrible for you that yu boy was injured. Plans are what we make but as my mother always used to add God willing! Not that I am blaming God for his accident of course. Do hope he will make a speedy recovery. How lovely that you have so many bees in your garden - we need bees so not only are they attractive to see buzzing in the flowers they are necessary to our food chain too! Love all the pretty flowers your boys have grown and I think mixing flowers with veggies is definitely the way to go. We have a patch of self sown nasturtiums in amongst the runner beans and have had for the past couple of years and I have noticed that we haven't been affected so much with black fly so maybe companion planting of flowers and veggies is a good idea for more than prettiness!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos which capture the bees thoroughly enjoying your flowers. I've just caught up on your last post and really feel for both you and your poor boy. I do hope he isn't in too much pain or discomfort and that he's up and about again very soon. Such a shame that he'll miss his residential trip. There were a couple of similar instances with children when my two were on residentials and their parents took them to meet up with the class for the day, even though they couldn't stay overnight. I wonder if you could arrange something similar so that he doesn't miss out completely.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - we have lots of these flowers too and our garden always has bees at this time of year!
ReplyDeleteA lovely post and wonderful pictures. Good for them for growing all my favourites for the bees to also enjoy. I really must grow a couple of artichokes again. Your last sentence had me smiling as that's what I do as well.
ReplyDeleteHappy gardening. Flighty xx
I was just standing in my garden yesterday, thinking, "How do I capture all of this in a picture?" I have a perennial garden that has lots of tall spiky plants (I think in the penstemon family) and the little winged insects love them! I was nearly being hit in the head by them as I stood there. A picture of just one bee wouldn't have done it justice. Glad they are just as busy across the pond!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!
ReplyDeleteI've done the exact same with my planting this year! I love cosmos, they fill a space quickly but just look so jolly nodding in the breeze! I have experimented with a few sunflower varieties this year, lots got eaten by the slugs but those that survived are indeed covered with bees! Best way to garden I think :)
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pictures. Thank you so much for comment on my blog. I will take some time to read through some of your posts :) xx
ReplyDeleteI like to attract bees in the yard, as long as I don't have to be too close. We have a lot of those huge bumblebees right now in our Russian sage, along with unusual tiny finches I've never noticed before.
ReplyDeleteI hope both you and your son are feeling much better, remember to take care of yourself as you are nursing him
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Absolutely beautiful CJ! I am going to add a bee seed mix to my shopping list for next year. We have plenty of bumble bees in our front garden, where we have a lavender border and a wildflower meadow but not in the back. They are sometimes so full (or intoxicated?) that they fall to the ground. There aren't very many honey bees unfortunately. I hope all is as well as can be with your big boy. Have a lovely week CJ. Cx
ReplyDeleteYour garden is amazing!! So beautiful, I love seeing bees and photos of bees...
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great week,
Tammy
PS... I don't remember if I told you, but my blog address has changed and I have lost all of my followers... they literally vanished off of my blog!! tlcukjourney.blogspot.com
Beautiful photos, CJ. There's a problem here in the Netherlands with the bee population (there aren't enough of them) so I'm relishing the ones in your garden xxx
ReplyDeleteMy oregano went a bit wild flowering this year and is chocka with bees, which as it's right by the front door has meant a few uninvited guests, but like you I'm just happy to help the bumblybulls, as my daughter used to call them (it's one of those childhood words that's stuck).
ReplyDeleteI do hope the biggest boy is feeling a bit brighter x
I love picturing you all enjoying the song and hum of the bees. I love bees and loved them more after reading "The Secret Life of Bees", but unfortunately my dad is allergic which is kind of ironic since he also loves planting flowers :) Hoping the biggest boy is still healing quickly.
ReplyDeleteYou have the cutest, fuzziest, chubbiest bees ever! We're not happy with bees right now. My 6 yr old grandson got 9 bee stings yesterday and another one today. The 5 year old is very allergic to them and got stung not long ago and it was very hard on him. We're back from 13 days camping.. blog post to prove it.. lol! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI've noticed a lot more bees this year...do you think it's down to more people planting bee friendly plants? Stunning photographs CJ.
ReplyDeleteThese close up pictures of the bees are truly beautiful! I usually never stand around a bee long enough to admire it since I'm scared it will sting me. These bees seem to have a proper distraction, though, and look very content among all the wonderful things you're growing. Hope you're having a wonderful week, CJ!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous flowers, such a treat to see so many pretty bee-loving flowers all together. Bee heaven indeed!
ReplyDeleteGill xx