Bees.butterflies and blooms

[aeshna5]

Agree; Sarah Raven has been doing a tremendous job campaigning for more insect friendly plantings + seems to be having a lot of success with the authorities.

[htcdude]

Just got round to watching the first episode over lunch today. Great program and really inspiring for me. Makes me wish I spent longer sitting amongst the wildflowers round here and taking it in...something I can plan to do this year

Nige

[King Edward]

I have been very impressed by this series so far, especially the second episode in which she did seem to make real headway both with the Britain in Bloom competition and with the RHS.

One aspect that wasn't touched upon is that there could be a lot more use of perennials in local authority planting schemes, including grasses and species with attractive dead foliage/seedheads to stand over winter. This would also be of great benefit to insects, with more places to shelter/breed/hibernate etc. as well as flowers.

Annual bedding is just so unbelievably dull, both the plants/flowers themselves and the fact that for large parts of the year the beds are just bare soil / young plants.

[jen by the hedge]

Originally Posted by King Edward

Annual bedding is just so unbelievably dull, both the plants/flowers themselves and the fact that for large parts of the year the beds are just bare soil / young plants.

That's what I've always thought, and a lot of them hardly have any fragrance. No begonias or bizzie lizzies for us this year - just insect attracting flowers. This program is an inspiration, and so good to watch on a winter's evening.

[htcdude]

Just watched the third and final episode. A great project and well executed I think. Hopefully more people will take an interest after seeing it, and it would be good to see how the projects that were done in the series have progressed this year and the next.

Nige

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by King Edward

I have been very impressed by this series so far, especially the second episode in which she did seem to make real headway both with the Britain in Bloom competition and with the RHS.

One aspect that wasn't touched upon is that there could be a lot more use of perennials in local authority planting schemes, including grasses and species with attractive dead foliage/seedheads to stand over winter. This would also be of great benefit to insects, with more places to shelter/breed/hibernate etc. as well as flowers.

Annual bedding is just so unbelievably dull, both the plants/flowers themselves and the fact that for large parts of the year the beds are just bare soil / young plants.

I only caught the third programme, sadly, and she did indeed deal with your point, KE, though with an emphasis on the flowering season. I thought it was an extremely interesting programme and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has certainly encouraged me to turn more of my garden over to a wildflower meadow area.

[jen by the hedge]

I went shopping for wildflower seeds yesterday, and was surprised to see that there weren't many packets left. I couldn't help but wonder if it was because of this program. Perhaps there'll be quite a few wild gardens this year. Hope so!

[Kayleigh]

I have just spent £31 on seeds

[jen by the hedge]

Haha. The way it's going, I won't be that far behind you.

[loripo]

I got my seeds for our school garden last year from here
they have a good selection and they let me order and then send a cheque.

They grew like wildfire!