'Bumblebee Banquet' is the sixth installation in the Designer Bed, designed by Katie's Garden's Catherine McMillan, author of Gardening for the Uncommitted: What You Really Need To Know When You Don't Really Want To Know.
“This garden has been inspired by the Bumblebee Banquet collections we sell online every spring, beefed up with Early Pollinator Perennials! |
Installed in mid-February 2023, the design is bright and colourful to counteract the gloomy overcast days we often experience in the earlier part of the year.
Low-growers and ground cover predominate - longer daylight hours and higher temperatures are needed for plants to grow tall - although a small number of shrubs provide some height and substance, as does the central archway complete with winter hanging baskets.
Many of the plants that flower in winter and early spring are also fragrant, all the better to attract the attentions of any pollinators in the area, a wonderful benefit for us gardeners too!
A mix of bulbs provide a succession of blooms for the bees, from early Crocus, through Hycainths and Muscari grape hyacinths on to Alliums for late spring, among others.
They are complemented by carefully selected Violas, Primroses and Polyanthus: some types and colours are sterile so we have tried to focus on those best for pollinators.
Perennials include Hellebores, Pulmonaria, Vinca periwinkle, Bergenia elephant's ears, Erica heather and Euphorbia which should again provide a succession of blooms from late winter through to late spring.
Low-growers and ground cover predominate - longer daylight hours and higher temperatures are needed for plants to grow tall - although a small number of shrubs provide some height and substance, as does the central archway complete with winter hanging baskets.
Many of the plants that flower in winter and early spring are also fragrant, all the better to attract the attentions of any pollinators in the area, a wonderful benefit for us gardeners too!
A mix of bulbs provide a succession of blooms for the bees, from early Crocus, through Hycainths and Muscari grape hyacinths on to Alliums for late spring, among others.
They are complemented by carefully selected Violas, Primroses and Polyanthus: some types and colours are sterile so we have tried to focus on those best for pollinators.
Perennials include Hellebores, Pulmonaria, Vinca periwinkle, Bergenia elephant's ears, Erica heather and Euphorbia which should again provide a succession of blooms from late winter through to late spring.
Click to download the on-site handout featuring planting list
| designer_bed_bumblebee_banquet_handout.pdf |