Within the bee backyard from March to April
The grape hyacinth flows like a river of blue alongside backyard borders, hedgerows and woodland areas. A small, hardy plant that does not appear to thoughts the chilly. It has patiently waited for the bees whereas the crocuses withered in late frosts.
These plump, purple-blue flowers are receiving many bee guests as spring awakens.
Like our toadflax, grape hyacinth spreads rapidly to fill beds and borders. For those who do not thoughts flowers that select the place they wish to go (I do not thoughts, that is my concept of lazy gardening), then grape hyacinth seems to be fairly when planted beneath bushes and left to wander throughout the garden (a really charming planting scheme I’ve seen in neighboring gardens).
For those who desire a tidier backyard, you would strive planting grape hyacinth in a spring container as an Easter current for the bees. However I can not promise it should keep contained.
I got here throughout a number of backyard escapees throughout a neighborhood stroll. Grape hyacinth and cowslips bolting beneath the gate.
The dandelions are additionally popping out and a few are rising up within the bushes.
The soil remains to be too moist in our backyard to do a lot – not that a lot must be executed. Mulching our beds and containers with gravel, bark or leaves in October has helped to decelerate the expansion of weeds this spring, though the lengthy, chilly winter has most likely helped too.
After a second serving of snow in March we put the bee home again within the shed to maintain heat. I additionally anticipated the frogspawn to freeze nevertheless it has survived. Nevertheless, we did lose one in all our goldfish, Zachary, after the thaw. John buried him on the backside of the backyard with our different two fish beneath the stones.
When the climate frustrates your gardening, as in beekeeping, there’s little else to do however make plans. I have been eyeing up the lungwort (pulmonaria) that is sprung up uninvited in my father or mother’s backyard (and which my step dad calls ‘weed’). It might look good rising within the shade of our ivy.
The lungwort hasn’t made itself any extra common by planting itself proper outdoors my father or mother’s entrance door. This busy flight path resulted in a standoff between bees and people every time the door was opened. I’d present you a close-up picture of those decided little bugs, however I am not capable of bend down as simply with my digital camera lately.
John and I expect our personal new arrival in July. For now, the bees, birds, fish and frogs can maintain themselves, and I feel they are going to just do nice.
NEXT POST: Within the bee backyard from Could to June.