Borage
Borage is a great pollinator plant. It’s so easy to grow from seed and has nectar rich flowers.
Lamb’s ears
If you grow lamb’s ears you might be lucky to see the Wool Carder bee in your garden. If you don’t grow lamb’s ears it’s time to plant some.
Image: Jean Vernon
Tortoiseshell Butterfly
The small tortoiseshell butterfly is fairly widespread in UK gardens
Image: Jean Vernon
Nature Table
A nature table is a great way to show others the beauty of insects, pollinators and bees
Image: Jean Vernon
Social Wasps
Wasps are not the bad guys. They are important pollinators and incredible natural garden pest control.
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Look out for this extraordinary moth in your summer gardens. It hovers like a hummingbird but is actually a moth.
Globe Thistle
A really good late summer plant for pollinators is the globe thistle, Echinops ritro.
Bee Walks and Talks
Would you like to learn a bit more about the bees in your garden? This summer I’ve been taking bee walks or bee safaris at some very special gardens around the UK, from RHS Wisley to Yeo Valley Organic Garden & Jekka’s Herb Farm. It can be a bee talk, with an illustrated presentation, or
Daily Telegraph Pollinator Feature
There’s a full page and a half article about supporting garden pollinators in the Daily Telegraph, by Jean Vernon
Bee fly
Look out for the buzzy bee fly this spring. It’s an important garden pollinator.