Most queen bumblebees hibernate in autumn, building up fat reserves to survive winter without food. In spring, they are hungry, urgently needing life-giving nectar. To help them along, pot up some early-flowering plants to help them replace lost energy before they fly off in search of a nesting site.
Add crocks to the base of the pot, then fill two-thirds with compost. Place the hellebores and primroses in position.
Fill compost in around the plants’ roots, up to the rim of the pot, and firm gently. Plant the bulbs and corms in the gaps.
Water plants thoroughly and allow to drain. Move the pot to a sunny, sheltered position, to encourage early flowering.
The rich colours of the bronze-leaved fennel and euphorbia complement the colour of the warm terracotta pot beneath. Tall euphorbia stems give height to the display while the wispy, feathery foliage of the fennel adds texture and movement. Weaving through display are delicate saxifrages, which bring spots of colour among the foliage.
In this simple container display we combine Lavender ‘Hidcote’ with purple-flowered pansies. The green glazed pot brings out the colour of the foliage, which contrasts beautifully with the purple blooms. Inexpensive and long-lasting, it’s the perfect pot for a sunny corner. You Will Need
In this stylish pot, a purple osteospermum and hebe combine with a green fern for a classy, long-lasting display. The striking, colourful foliage of the hebe complements the flowers. Choose plants that vary in height to make a display with interest at all levels – ferns are ideal for the ‘backbone’ of a pot. The fern that we’ve used, Dryopteris affinis, is semi-evergreen, and the hebe is evergreen, which means you could switch the osteospermum for a winter bedding plant when summer ends.
This box pyramid container display with ornamental grass and orange osteospermum makes an attractive, year-round feature for a sunny or partially shaded corner. A mulch of gravel gives the container a fresh look, as well as retains moisture in the pot. You Will Need