Bumblebees are important pollinators of early flowering plants and can ‘disengage’ their wings in cold weather, vibrating wing muscles to warm their bodies. In autumn and early winter, queen bumblebees look for a warm, dry home. This simple bumblebee pot could offer them the perfect spot.
Take a clay pot and pop a small clump of moss from your garden over the drainage hole.
Loosely fill the pot with hay so that the moss drops when the pot is turned over, allowing access for the bee.
Choose a warm sheltered spot, such as the foot of a hedge. Scrape away a little soil, enough to bury half the pot. Turn the pot upside down into the hole and push the soil back around it.
Fill gaps in your summer planting displays with brightly-coloured lilies for a temporary, but timely, burst of colour. Plant lily bulbs into pots then simply drop them, pot and all, into arrangements on the patio, or even in your borders. You Will Need
Pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies, need nectar to give them energy to fly, and bees also need pollen to feed their young. Give them a helping hand by creating this pot packed with colourful, pollen- and nectar-rich blooms. More on gardening for pollinators: 10 plants for butterflies Spring bulb pot for bees The best flowers for hoverflies Find out how to create a wildlife-friendly summer pot for pollinators, below.
You can create a wildlife corner in even the smallest garden, and it doesn’t have to be a patch of unmown grass or a scrambling scrub thicket. A single, large container will suffice, containing plants to attract bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other insects. The display will provide shelter for insects to roost or hibernate, food plants for various caterpillars, and sources of nectar for pollinating insects. We created a scheme of nectar-rich nepeta, lavenders, geranium, polemonium, salvia a
This quick project has got to be one of the easiest, requiring literally a few easy steps to transform this old jam jar into a rustic decoration. Once the glue has dried, you can fill it with lots of plant material from the garden, whether it’s stems laden with berries, or plants with autumn and winter fragrance. Discover scented plants for every month. More easy Christmas inspiration: Mistletoe and box Christmas ball Contemporary Christmas wreath Making a rustic Christmas wreath (video) Kee