BEES AT THE DELL
PLANTS TO ATTRACT BEES
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Terry and Mirelle enjoy watching wildlife at The Dell especially Bees gathering pollen and sipping nectar from flowers.
During their horticultural careers Terry and Mirelle have observed and photographed many Bees visiting flowers and noted favoured plants, "we continue to read and learn about favoured plants to introduce or increase groups in our garden to help attract and provide as much sustenance as possible for visiting Bees and those living in our garden".
All year round Terry aims to spend at least one hour each day when possible looking around The Dell to see what is in flower, fruiting or showing attractive leaves and bark, with camera Terry captures images for this website and particularly looks closely to see if there are Bees and Insects active and which flowers they are feeding on.
"Macro Photographing Bees is not easy for many reasons, often the plants are moving, even in light wind or are very close to the ground, I gave up using a tripod to steady and aid high definition a long time ago, I use a macro lens and extension tubes on standard and zoom lenses enabling me to get very close to Bees, using different techniques I am able to take some sharp images showing fine Bee hairs and even pollen, as time goes by I aim to continue to improve my photography"
This webpage is intended to show plants and plantings during their flowering period at The Dell that are visited by Bees.
Bumblebee Sipping Nectar from Verbena bonariensis
Box Garden - The Dell August 2019
Bee Favourite Plants - Marjoram (Or) Osteospermum (Os) and
Thyme (Th) - Box Garden from Dry Bank - The Dell August 2019
THE DELL MIRELLE'S GARDEN
The Dell is just over one acre split into ten separate garden areas, Bees can be found in all areas but usually more in the Box Garden, Dry Bank, Grass and Pond Garden, Perennial Border, Vegetable Garden and Wildlife Garden.
BOX GARDEN - BEE FAVOURITE PLANTS
Aster frikartii Monch
Calamintha probably White Cloud (Lesser Catmint)
Geranium varieties Brookside, Claridge Druce, Himalayense, Jolly Bee, Rozanne and Summer Skies
Malus domestica (Apple) varieties Allington Pippin, Blenheim Orange, Charles Ross, Cox's Orange Pippin, Laxtons Fortune, Norfolk Royal, Red Devil, Reverend Wilkes, Winston, Worcester - Grown as corridors and on fences.
Nepeta x faassenii Six Hills Giant
Origanum majorana (Marjoram)
Osteospermum Lady Leitrim Syn. Pale Face (African or Cape Daisy)
Prunus serrulata Kanzan
Sedum spectabile Autumn Joy and Black Magic (Ice Plant and Butterfly Stonecrop)
Stachys lanata (Lambs Ear)
Thymus - various varieties (Thyme)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple Top/Argentinian Vervain)
The Box Garden is the largest of the garden areas, consisting of thirteen box (Buxus sempervirens) edged flower beds containing feature roses, Nepeta and Osteospermum under and inter planted with various bulbs and perennials including areas of Verbena bonariensis visited regularly by Bees, Butterflies and other insects June until November.
A carpet of mixed varieties of Thymus profusely flower June and July attracting many and different types of Bees.
Achemilla mollis (Ladys Mantle) are used as border edges to three border carpets of Geranium Claridge Druce Achemillia hold moisture on leaves which insects visit, Bees and Hoverflies visit all the Geranium varieties.
Bumblebee visits Verbena bonariensis June till November
Box Garden - The Dell September 2019
Bumblebee visits Thymus June and July
Box Garden - The Dell July 2019
Osteospermum Lady Leitrim Flowers May to November
Liked by Bees - Box Garden - The Dell May 2019
DRY BANK - BEE FAVOURITE PLANTS
Catanache caerulea (Cupids Dart)
Eryngium giganteum Miss Willmott's Ghost (Sea Holly)
Knautia macedonica Melton Pastels and macedonica
Lavendula (Lavender)
Origanum majorana (Marjoram)
Scabiosa Kingfischer Blue
Sedum telephium Strawberries and Cream (Ice Plant and Butterfly Stonecrop)
The Dry Bank is very close to our cottage, it is very steep, gravel, sand and soil, full of flints and has a thick marl layer, we densely grow various drought tolerant perennials, grasses, herbs, bulbs and shrubs on the bank providing nectar and pollen for Bees, I have not been able to identify but believe Bees are living in tunnels abandoned by rodents along the bank.
Scabiosa Kingfischer Blue (other varieties available) is a must have plant developing a dense mound of foliage almost in flower every day from June to October constantly visited by Bees and Butterflies.
Eryngium giganteum Miss Willmott's Ghost (Sea Holly) is a stately architectural biennial visited by Bees June and July, let seed form and fall for future years, then enjoy the dead silvery skeletons or cut and colour for vases and decorations.
Knautia Melton Pastels a Favourite of Bees
Dry Bank - The Dell June 2019
Bumblebee visits Scabiosa Kingfischer Blue June to October
Dry Bank - The Dell June 2019
Bee Favourite Plants - Knautia macedonica (Kn) Lavendula (La) Scabiosa Kingfischer Blue (Sc)
Dry Bank - The Dell June 2019
Bumblebee feeding from Eryngium g. Miss Willmott's Ghost
A Self Seeding Biennial - Dry Bank - The Dell July 2018
Bee Favourite Plants - Eryngium Miss Willmotts Ghost (Er) Knautia macedonica (Kn) Lavendula (La) Marjoram (Or)
Scabiosa Kingfischer Blue (Sc) Sedum telephium (Se) - Dry Bank - The Dell July 2019
Bees visit Catanche, Eryngium and Lavender
Dry Bank - The Dell July 2019
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Bees visit Sedum telephium Strawberries and Cream
August to October - Dry Bank - The Dell August 2019
Bumblebee feeding from Allium christophii
Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell June 2019
Bumblebee visits Firework like Allium christophii
Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell June 2019
GRASS and POND GARDEN - BEE FAVOURITE PLANTS
Allium Christophii (Star of Persia or Persian Onion)
Buddleja crispa (Himalayan Butterfly Bush)
Eryngium giganteum Miss Willmott's Ghost (Sea Holly)
Kniphofia Wrexham Buttercup (Red Hot Poker)
Meconopsis cambrica (Welsh Poppy)
Prunus avium syn. cerasus (Edible Cherry) varieties Regina, Stella Gisela and Summit - Grown on fences.
Prunus domestica (Plum) Victoria - Grown on fence.
Salvia Amistad
Verbena bonariensis (Purple Top/Argentinian Vervain)
The Grass and Pond Garden is the smallest of our gardens, an enclosed suntrap, has retaining walls of found flints, a ornamental pond surrounded by ornamental grasses, perennials, bulbs, trained Cherry and Plums on panel and paling fences provide beautiful spring flowers, pollen and nectar for Bees and in Summer tasty fruits to pick and enjoy.
Firework like Allium Christophii attract Bees May and June, architectural dead flower heads can be cut for decoration.
Biennial self seeding Eryngium giganteum Miss Willmott's Ghost (Sea Holly) increases amongst the grasses and in the gravel path each year, visited by many Bees June and July, it is Terry's favourite garden to photograph Bees.
Kniphofia Wrexham Buttercup provides a bright beacon of yellow during summer and autumn, Bees visit.
Perhaps under used Meconopsis cambrica is a easy to grow self seeding, long flowering perennial May to October that attracts Bees, it is a good contrasting companion plant amongst other perennials, Aquilegia, Iris and Miscanthus.
There are two self seeded groups of Verbena bonariensis visited regularly by Bees from June until November, the garden being enclosed and sheltered make both groups of Verbena easier to photograph Bees visiting to feed.
Bee Favourite Plants - Buddeja crispa (Bc) Eryngium Miss Willmotts Ghost (Er) Kniphofia Wrexham Buttercup (Kf)
Salvia Amistad (Sa) Verbena bonariensis (Vb) - Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell August 2019
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Bees visit Cherry (Prunus avium) Regina
Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell April 2019
Bees visit Meconopsis cambrica May to October
Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell May 2019
Bumblebee feeding from Verbena bonariensis
Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell September 2019
Honey Bee feeding from Eryngium g. Miss Willmott's Ghost
Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell July 2017
Bees visit and go inside Salvia Amistad Flowers
Grass and Pond Garden - The Dell October 2018
PERENNIAL BORDER - BEE FAVOURITE PLANTS
Achillea ptarmica The Pearl (Yarrow)
Aconitum arendsii (Monkshood)
Alcea (Hollyhock)
Allium stipitaum Violet Beauty
Anemone varieties rupicola Dreaming Swan, Elphin Swan, Ruffled Swan and Wild Swan, x hybrida Pink Kiss
Anthemis tinctoria kelwayi
Aster varieties alpinus Blue, Aqua Compact, frikartii Monch, Little Carlow
Centaurea montana (Perennial Cornflower)
Geranium varieties Johnsons Blue, Mavis Simpson, sanguineum album, Summer Skies
Geum varieties coccineum Cooky, rivale Leonards variety
Leucanthemum varieties (Ox-Eye Daisy)
Lysimachia ciliata Firecracker (Loosestrife)
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)
Myosotis sylvatica (Forget Me Not)
Origanum majorana (Marjoram)
Polemonium caeruleum (Jacobs Ladder)
Primula vulgare (Wild Primrose)
Pulmonaria varieties Raspberry Splash, Sissinghurst White (Lungwort)
Rudbeckia fulgida deamii (Coneflower)
Sedum varieties erythrostictum Frosty Morn, spectabile Autumn Joy, telephium Cloud Walker and Gooseberry Fool
Veronica grandis (Heartleaf Speedwell)
The Perennial Border is very fertile, situated between Vegetable and Sundial Garden the ground slopes towards The Dry Bank and into The Dell, the two borders are planted up with many perennials, roses, bulbs and shrubs giving a rich environment for Biodiversity, there are wooden and aluminium greenhouses near the Vegetable Garden gate.
The two borders are a favourite for Terry to sit and wait for Bees visiting the many genus of plants along the border.
Predatory spider, Misumena vatia blend and hide amongst the flowers waiting to pounce on insects including Bees.
Bumblebees feeding from Centaurea montana
The Perennial Border - The Dell May 2017
Bees visit Geum Leonards Variety in Spring
The Perennial Border - The Dell May 2018
Bees visit Geranium, Geum and Forget Me Not in Spring
The Perennial Border - The Dell May 2018
Bee Favourite Plants - Achillea ptarmica The Pearl (Ap) Catanche caerulea (Ca) Leucanthemum (Le)
Lychnis coronaria (Ly) Marjoram (Or) Verbena grandis (Ve) - Perennial Border - The Dell July 2019
Bumblebee feeding from Geranium Johnsons Blue
The Perennial Border - The Dell June 2018
Bumblebee sipping Nectar from Veronica grandis
The Perennial Border - The Dell July 2019
Bee and insect Hunting Spider Captures Bumblebee
The Perennial Border - The Dell July 2018
Bee sipping Nectar from Marjoram
The Perennial Border - The Dell August 2019
Bee feeding from Sedum spectable Autumn Joy
The Perennial Border - The Dell September 2019
Bee feeding from Aster
The Perennial Border - The Dell October 2018
Aster, Rudbeckia and Sedum Provide Autumn Food
The Perennial Border - The Dell October 2019
Forsythia x intermedia Lynwood - Provides Spring Food
For Insects - Vegetable Garden - The Dell March 2019
VEGETABLE, FRUIT and CUT FLOWER GARDEN - BEE FAVOURITE PLANTS
Allium schoenoprasum (Chives)
Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)
Anemone blanda White Splendour (Grecian or Winter Windflower)
Aster frikartii Monch
Fragaria x ananassa (Strawberry) varieties Albion, Amelie, Buddy, Calypso, Daisy, Darselect, Elsanta, Flamenco, Gorella, Honeyeye, Loran, Marshmallow, Pegasus, Red Gauntlet, Roman, Snow White, Sonata, Sophia, Sweet Colossus, Symphony, Tarpan, Unknown From Tyntesfield
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)
Malus domestica (Apple) varieties Braeburn, Chivers Delight, Early Victoria, Elstar, Galaxy, George Cave, Goldilocks, James Grieve, Jonagold, Jonagored, Jupiter, Norfolk Beauty, Spartan, Sterapple, St. Magdalene
Meconopsis cambrica (Welsh Poppy)
Nigella damascena (Love in a Mist)
Origanum majorana (Marjoram)
Phaseolus coccineus (Runner Bean)
Prunus domestica (Plum) Opal
Pyrus communis (Pear) Pitmaston Duchess
The Vegetable, Fruit and Cut Flower Garden has five beds and three side borders growing a mixture of vegetables, herbs, fruit, cut flowers and nursery stock, there are wire fences and corridors of trained apples, a pear, a plum, strawberries, bush and cane fruits and aluminium greenhouses growing Tomatoes.
It is vital that Bees and Beneficial Insects visit and pollinate fruit and vegetable flowers to aid transfer of pollen produced by anthers to stigma enabling fertilisation followed by seed and fruit production.
Boundary hedge Forsythia x intermedia Lynwood on flint retaining wall adjacent to Wildlife Garden attracts insects.
Predatory spider, Misumena vatia hide amongst Chives and ornamentals in the Potager Bed ready to capture insects.
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Bee feeding from Pear Pitmaston Duchess
Vegetable Garden - The Dell April 2019
Bee Favourite Plants - Apple Sterapple (Ma) Chives (Al) Nigella damascena (Ni) Marjoram (Or)
Meconopsis cambrica (Mc) Plum Opal (Pd) Strawberry (Fr) - Vegetable Garden - The Dell May 2017
Bee feeding from Apple Blossom Jonagored
Vegetable Garden - The Dell April 2017
Bumblebee feeding from Nigella
Vegetable Garden - The Dell June 2019
Bumblebee feeding from Chives
Vegetable Garden - The Dell May 2017
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Bee and insect Hunting Spider waiting on Chives
Vegetable Garden - The Dell June 2019
Bumblebee Pollinating Runner Bean Flowers
Vegetable Garden - The Dell July 2018
Bee feeding from Marjoram grown as edging
Vegetable Garden - The Dell July 2019
Bumblebee feeding from Agastache
Vegetable Garden - The Dell September 2019
THE WILDLIFE GARDEN - BEE FAVOURITE PLANTS
Achillea Moonshine (Yarrow)
Allium varieties hollandicum Purple Sensation and Summer Drummer
Anthemis cupaniana (Sicilian Chamomile)
Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold)
Centaurea montana (Perennial Cornflower)
Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove)
Ilex aquifolium (Common Holly)
Leucanthemum vulgare (Ox-eye Daisy)
Lychnis (Sym. Silene) coronaria and alba (Rose and White Campion)
Myosotis sylvatica (Wood Forget-Me-Not)
Nigella damascena (Love in a Mist)
Primula veris (Oxlip)
Primula vulgaris (Primrose)
Salvia Amistad
Silene dioicia (Red Campion)
Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple Top/Argentinian Vervain)
The Wildlife Garden was a piece of wasteland adjacent to grazing farmland, we acquired to relocate and increase the size of our compost bins and aimed to create a Biodiverse habitat to attract and help sustain native wildlife.
Mirelle started by clearing under grown to make easier access, thinned branches were pegged into position to create planting areas and retain composted material used as mulches in particular a collection of ferns planted under trees.
Existing bird boxes were repaired and new bird boxes added, a bench was created from found waste timber.
Year 1 Primroses in other gardens were split and planted, seed heads of Campion and Forget-Me-Not were saved and broadcast over bare ground, a hardy annual mix including Larkspur and Nigella was sown to provide pollen rich flowers.
Other split and purchased perennials and fruit bushes and canes have been added to increase pollen and nectar for insects and seeds and fruits for birds, Terry is still building up a stock of photos of flowers with insects in The Wildlife Garden.
Bees visit Red Campion in Spring
Wildlife Garden - The Dell May 2019
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Red Campion (Silene dioicia)
Wildlife Garden - The Dell May 2015
Feverfew, Forget-Me-Not and Wallflower Spring
Wildlife Garden - The Dell May 2019
Bee Favourite Plants - Anthemis cupaniana (Ac) Allium Purple Sensation (Ap)
Centaurea montana (Cm) Myosotis (Ms) - Wildlife Garden - The Dell May 2019
Lychnis coronaria follow in Summer
Wildlife Garden - The Dell July 2019
Hardy Annuals including Larkspur
Wildlife Garden - The Dell July 2019
Bumblebee feeding from Centaurea scabiosa
Wildlife Garden - The Dell July 2019
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Holly provide Spring pollen and Winter Berries
Wildlife Garden - The Dell November 2018
TERRY'S TOP TWELVE PERENNIALS ATTRACTING BEES
Allium schoenoprasum (Chives)
Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)
Calamintha (Lesser Catmint)
Erigeron glaucus Sea Breeze (Seaside Fleabane)
Eryngium giganteum Miss Willmott's Ghost (Sea Holly)
Geranium varieties especially Claridge Druce and Rozanne
Helenium autumnale (Sneezeweed)
Lavendula (Lavender)
Origanum majorana (Marjoram)
Scabiosa (Pincushion Plant)
Sedum (Ice Plant or Stonecrop)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple Top/Argentinian Vervain)
Bumblebee feeding from Erigeron glaucus
Southbourne Coast - Dorset June 2019
Bee feeding from Helenium autumnale Sahin's Early Flowerer
Powis Castle - August 2019
Corridor of Trained Apples Provide Food for Bees
Box Garden - The Dell April 2017
Corridor of Trained Apples Under Planted with Strawberries
and Cut Flowers - Vegetable Garden - The Dell April 2017
TERRY'S TOP TIPS - TRAIN FRUIT TREES
At The Dell, Mirelle trains Apples, Cherries, Pears and Plums to fences, walls and between posts on wire creating corridors and boundaries.
Select dwarf varieties as maidens or fan trained, fix to fence, wall on wires using twist ties, develop the framework then keep pruned to develop flowering spurs.
More spurs provide masses of flowers for Bees to visit in Spring producing Summer fruits, pruning regularly keeps the trees easy to manage and collect fruit, at The Dell we grow over 30 varieties of Apple in small spaces. Our favourites are Charles Ross, Cox, Pixie and Red Devil.
Updated 16th November 2019 © Copyright Terry and Mirelle Bane 2017 - Web Site Designer Terry Bane terrycbane@gmail.com