Ivydene Gardens Plants: |
|
||||||
If a plant is polinated by a bee, then it is not wind-pollinated. This means that the plants mentioned on this page and in the book "Garden Plants Valuable to Bees" (written by the International Bee Research Association) will be suitable for people who suffer from hay fever. You can compare the flower colour of the bee-pollinated plants with all the other bee-pollinated plants (who have Plant Description Pages in this website) using the Bee-pollinated 12 colours of Bloom in each Month Gallery. There are also 218 additional bee-pollinated plants (who may not have any Plant Description Page in this website) in the 12 colours per month pages of the Bee-pollinated Index Gallery. The importance of garden plants yielding nectar and pollen is that together they provide a continuous food supply - from willows and crocuses in early spring to ivy in late autumn. Colonies of bees need food through their active season , so that they can develop and rear new bees. This food supply used to be provided by pastures that came into flower before they were cut, by verges and hedgerows, and by abundant weeds. Nowadays the efficiency of agriculture has greatly reduced these resources for the bees. The list for gardens exclude most crop plants, most fruits and all very invasive plants that are difficult to control. It is designed for Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. "Ordinary garden soil" is pH 5-7 and contains some humus-forming material. |
The report below details which plants in Greater San Francisco Bay Area Region of the USA were visited by each different bee family; and therefore will aid you in selection of plants that are bee-pollinated rather than wind-pollinated, besides the ones that I have listed in my table below:- RECORD OF NATIVE BEES FOUND IN THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA REGION, WITH SOME OF THEIR LIKELY PLANT HOSTS Compiled by Laura Arneson |
||||||
Road Noise, Airport Noise, Industrial Units and Railway Noise next to gardens is detrimental to humans living in those houses within those gardens. There are 4 methods commonly used for sound attenuation (the reduction of intensity of outdoor sounds before they reach the receiver) :-
If the house owner has a noise problem from outside their property, then they can use the same solution as above using 1, 2, 3 and 4 only. Their sheds and storage facilities can be installed in area 4 with path 3. leading to them. |
|||||||
Single flowered cultivars (some are marked as 'Single Flowers') are more useful to bees than double flowered cultivars.
The final column shows the value of the plant to bees (honeybees and hive bees):
|
|||||||
Plant Name with link to mail-order nursery in UK / Europe |
Common Name |
Flowering Months of Plant Named but not "and it's cultivars" |
Flowering Colour of Plant Named but not "and it's cultivars" |
Height x Spread in inches (cms). |
Plant Type |
Comment The RHS has compiled this list of plants that will provide nectar and pollen for bees and many other types of pollinating insects:- |
N for Nectar |
Aconitum carmichaeli |
Monks-hood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actaea simplex |
Bugbane |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anemone hupehensis |
Japanese anemone |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anemone x hybrida |
Japanese anemone |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arbutus unedo |
Straw-berry tree |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster amellus |
Perennial aster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster ericoides f. prostratus |
Perennial aster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster koraiensis |
Perennial aster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster laterifolius var horizontalis |
Perennial aster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster novae-angliae |
Michael-mas daisy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster novi-belgi |
Michael-mas daisy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster oolentang-iensis |
Perennial aster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster turbinellus |
Perennial aster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aster x frikartii 'Monch' |
Perennial aster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Campanula poschar-skyana |
Bell-flower |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cerato-stigma plumbag-inoides |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clematis hera-cleifolia |
Clematis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colchicum species |
Autumn crocus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dahlia cultivars |
Dahlia - single-flower-ed forms |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elaeagnus pungens |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elaeagnus x ebbingei |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fatsia japonica |
Japanese aralia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hedera colchica |
Persian ivy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hedera helix |
Native plant. Ivy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hedera helix 'Arbor-escens' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helianthus x laetiflorus |
Sun-flower |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leucanth-emella serotina |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salvia leucantha |
Mexican bush |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tilia henryana |
Lime tree |
|
|
|
|
One of the last to flower |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top ten plants that are bad for bees from Countryfile Magazine "Lavender, alliums, fuschias, sweet peas - keen gardeners know the very best flowers to entice bees to their gardens. But what about plants that are bad for bees? Here is our expert guide to the top ten plants that you should avoid to keep bees happy and buzzing, plus the perfect alternatives. 1. Rhododendron 2. Azalea 3. Trumpet flower, or angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens) 4. Oleander (Nerium oleander) 5. Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) 6. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) 7. Stargazer lily (Lilium 'Stargazer') 8. Heliconia Exotic and interesting, heliconia, or lobster-claws as its sometimes called, is very toxic to bees. You should not prune your heliconias, as the 'stem' is actually made up of rolled leaf bases and the flowers emerge from the top of these 'pseudostems'. However, each stem will only flower once, so after flowering you can cut that stem out. This is recommended, to encourage more flowering, to increase airflow in between the stems of your plant, and also to generally tidy it up and improve the appearance. 9. Bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia - 10. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) This is another list of Plants toxic to bees, which includes:- |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site. |
Height in inches (cms):- 25.4mm = 1 inch I normally round this to |
The bee can pollinate the flower, which can then produce a seed. Hymn 881 then instructs the seed:- Push, little seed, |
|||||
"Plants For Bees BOOK (By WDJ Kirk and FN Howes; Published by IBRA) This is a ‘must-have’ book for anyone serious about gardening for bees This would make an ideal gift for any budding gardener, with some emphasis on which plants are suitable for growing in the British Isles, though would be applicable to any country with a similar temperate climate, as honeybees around the world have pretty much the same tastes and tongue-length. Bumblebees will also forage on any plant which provides nectar, and pollen, to their liking within reach of their tongue, regardless of the origin of the plant. So bees are not prejudiced against non-native plants. Nor should we be, as long as their benefits outweigh any capacity to become invasive weeds, of course. It is an extremely well researched work; though the author is quick to remind us that this volume by no means contains all the bees favourite plants; though it contains enough to keep us very busy and bees very happy (review by Sarah Holdsworth)" from Bee Happy Plants. "Bee Happy Plants based at Lakehayes Organic Nursery, is a small family run business, established and put into Soil Association organic conversion in 2002. Now run by Sarah and daughter Joy, with help from other family members, various local part-time and seasonal workers; all have contributed to what has become an efficient production line of seed-raised, organic, wild species plugs, plants and more seeds. Sarah (with experience on organic farms since the 1980’s and RHS Level 3 at Bicton Agricultural College), would say the inspiration behind Bee Happy Plants began way back on the isolated smallholding of her childhood, in countryside untouched by modern agriculture. Watching parents, Fitz and Brygid and salt-of-the-earth land-worker Fred Shire care for 25 acres: planting trees, wild and formal gardens, fruit and vegetable garden, and maintaining permanent pasture and orchard, with nothing much more than a few grazing animals, a fork, a scythe and a sense of humour. It was this idyllic, magical place brimming with wildlife in all its weird and wonderful forms, from the gentle and regular hoot of owls, to the humming and buzzing of insects. The shock came later when it dawned that the place of her childhood was unique. Few other places like this jewel of unspoilt countryside still exist. Instead the ‘green deserts’ of monoculture expand; where weeds, insects and wildflowers are no longer welcome, birds no longer gather, and bees go hungry. Understanding that it is down to ordinary people like us, in our own gardens, to nurture something wild or heritage – we can all help to save bees’ favourite plants. Bee Happy Plants was conceived to help us do this. Sarah Holdsworth 2014 ". |
|||||||
From Plants to encourage pollenating insects by the Royal Horticultural Society in the Wilstead Garden Club website:- "Help for pollinating insects (from the RHS Website) The RHS has compiled a list of plants that will provide nectar and pollen for bees and many other types of pollinating insects. Over the last 50 years declines have been noted in many groups of British insects, including those that visit flowers. These include some common butterflies, moths, hoverflies and bees. The reasons for this are various and complex but part of the problem may be the reduction in abundance of wild flowers in the countryside that has occurred over this 50 year period. Gardens are increasingly recognised as important habitats where insects can find sources of nectar and pollen. Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from one flower to another, allowing flowers to become fertilised and able to produce seeds and fruits. In some plants, such as grasses and conifers, pollen is spread by the wind, but the majority of plants require insects and sometimes other animals to carry the pollen. Apples, plums, pears, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, red currants, gooseberries and strawberries all rely on insects to bring about pollination. The same is true for some vegetables, such as broad bean, runner bean and plants in the marrow-pumpkin family. It has been estimated that the value of insect-pollinated fruits and vegetables grown in the UK is about £220 million a year. In addition there is the inestimable value of pollination provided to wild flowers and garden ornamentals, making insect pollinators a vital component of our biodiversity. Flowers attract insects by providing them with two rich sources of food - nectar and pollen. Nectar contains sugars and provides insects with an energy source, while pollen grains contain proteins and oils. Pollen and nectar provide the complete diet for both the adult bees and their larvae. Other insects, such as various flies and midges, beetles, wasps, thrips, bugs, butterflies and moths visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar but may also have other dietary requirements, especially in their immature stages. Some predatory insects visit flowers to feed on other insects attracted to the blooms. All are capable of picking up pollen on their bodies and bringing about pollination when they move to other flowers of the same plant.
How to attract and support pollinating insects Aim to have plants that are attractive to pollinating insects in flower from early spring to late autumn. Seek plants at garden centres and nurseries having the RHS symbol pictured left. Grow garden plants with flowers that attract pollinating insects. Avoid plants with double or multi-petaled flowers. Such flowers may lack nectar and pollen, or insects may have difficulty in gaining access. Never use pesticides on plants when they are in flower. Where appropriate, British wild flowers can be an attractive addition to planting schemes and may help support a wider range of pollinating insects. Observe the plants in your garden. If you know of plants with blooms that regularly attract insects, let the RHS know. Encourage bees by keeping honeybees yourself or allowing a beekeeper to place hives in your garden. Nest boxes containing cardboard tubes or hollow plant stems, or holes drilled in blocks of wood will provide nest sites for some species of solitary bees. Such nests are available from garden centres or you can make your own (holes/tubes should be in a mixture of sizes with a diameter of 2-8mm).
Some pollinator insect facts
Compiled by Andrew Halstead, RHS Principal Entomologist" |
|||||||
For my recommendation on what to do with your prunings, kitchen scraps and grass mowings see Compost Bins in Companion Planting Page C, instead of composting them in a small 1 cubic yard domestic garden compost bin. |
PLANTS PAGE PLANT USE Poisonous Cultivated and UK Wildflower Plants with Photos
Following parts of Level 2a,
|
PLANTS PAGE MENU Plant Selection by Plant Requirements
Photos - with its link; provides a link to its respective Plant Photo Gallery in this website to provide comparison photos. |
PLANTS PAGE MENU REFINING SELECTION Photos - 12 Flower Colours per Month in its Bloom Colour Wheel Gallery
Groundcover Height |
To locate mail-order nursery for plants from the UK in this gallery try using search in RHS Find a Plant. To locate plants in the European Union (EU) try using Search Term in Gardens4You and Meilland Richardier in France. To locate mail-order nursery for plants from America in this gallery try using search in Plant Lust. To locate plant information in Australia try using Plant Finder in Gardening Australia. To see what plants that I have described in this website see |
||
The following details come from Cactus Art:- "A flower is the the complex sexual reproductive structure of Angiosperms, typically consisting of an axis bearing perianth parts, androecium (male) and gynoecium (female). Bisexual flower show four distinctive parts arranged in rings inside each other which are technically modified leaves: Sepal, petal, stamen & pistil. This flower is referred to as complete (with all four parts) and perfect (with "male" stamens and "female" pistil). The ovary ripens into a fruit and the ovules inside develop into seeds. Incomplete flowers are lacking one or more of the four main parts. Imperfect (unisexual) flowers contain a pistil or stamens, but not both. The colourful parts of a flower and its scent attract pollinators and guide them to the nectary, usually at the base of the flower tube.
Androecium (male Parts or stamens) Gynoecium (female Parts or carpels or pistil)
It is made up of the stigma, style, and ovary. Each pistil is constructed of one to many rolled leaflike structures.
The following details come from Nectary Genomics:- "NECTAR. Many flowering plants attract potential pollinators by offering a reward of floral nectar. The primary solutes found in most nectars are varying ratios of sucrose, glucose and fructose, which can range from as little a 8% (w/w) in some species to as high as 80% in others. This abundance of simple sugars has resulted in the general perception that nectar consists of little more than sugar-water; however, numerous studies indicate that it is actually a complex mixture of components. Additional compounds found in a variety of nectars include other sugars, all 20 standard amino acids, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, vitamins, organic acids, oils, free fatty acids, metal ions and proteins. NECTARIES. An organ known as the floral nectary is responsible for producing the complex mixture of compounds found in nectar. Nectaries can occur in different areas of flowers, and often take on diverse forms in different species, even to the point of being used for taxonomic purposes. Nectaries undergo remarkable morphological and metabolic changes during the course of floral development. For example, it is known that pre-secretory nectaries in a number of species accumulate large amounts of starch, which is followed by a rapid degradation of amyloplast granules just prior to anthesis and nectar secretion. These sugars presumably serve as a source of nectar carbohydrate. WHY STUDY NECTAR? Nearly one-third of all worldwide crops are dependent on animals to achieve efficient pollination. In addition, U.S. pollinator-dependent crops have been estimated to have an annual value of up to $15 billion. Many crop species are largely self-incompatible (not self-fertile) and rely almost entirely on animal pollinators to achieve full fecundity; poor pollinator visitation has been reported to reduce yields of certain species by up to 50%." |
||
The following details about DOUBLE FLOWERS comes from Wikipedia:- "Double-flowered" describes varieties of flowers with extra petals, often containing flowers within flowers. The double-flowered trait is often noted alongside the scientific name with the abbreviation fl. pl. (flore pleno, a Latin ablative form meaning "with full flower"). The first abnormality to be documented in flowers, double flowers are popular varieties of many commercial flower types, including roses, camellias and carnations. In some double-flowered varieties all of the reproductive organs are converted to petals — as a result, they are sexually sterile and must be propagated through cuttings. Many double-flowered plants have little wildlife value as access to the nectaries is typically blocked by the mutation.
There is further photographic, diagramatic and text about Double Flowers from an education department - dept.ca.uky.edu - in the University of Kentucky in America.
"Meet the plant hunter obsessed with double-flowering blooms" - an article from The Telegraph. |
||
THE 2 EUREKA EFFECT PAGES FOR UNDERSTANDING SOIL AND HOW PLANTS INTERACT WITH IT OUT OF 10,000:-
|
||
Choose 1 of these different Plant selection Methods:-
1. Choose a plant from 1 of 53 flower colours in the Colour Wheel Gallery.
2. Choose a plant from 1 of 12 flower colours in each month of the year from 12 Bloom Colours per Month Index Gallery.
3. Choose a plant from 1 of 6 flower colours per month for each type of plant:- Aquatic
4. Choose a plant from its Flower Shape:- Shape, Form
5. Choose a plant from its foliage:- Bamboo
6. There are 6 Plant Selection Levels including Bee Pollinated Plants for Hay Fever Sufferers in
or
7. when I do not have my own or ones from mail-order nursery photos , then from March 2016, if you want to start from the uppermost design levels through to your choice of cultivated and wildflower plants to change your Plant Selection Process then use the following galleries:-
|
||
There are other pages on Plants which bloom in each month of the year in this website:-
|
|
|