Which plant in your garden attracted the most bees today?

[jpscloud]

Originally Posted by Deb London

It was the Cotoneaster, but the Borage flowers have just begun to open and there is a pleasant buzz coming from their general direction.

My borage is a little behind yours, being slightly further north. It's almost ready to open, perhaps next week - looking forward to that

Most popular has been hardy geranium in my garden this month.

[Claire Fifi]

Welsh Poppies (Meconopsis cambrica).the bees love them!

Easy to grow, self-seeding (share them with your friends) perennial and a lovely cheery yellow. What more could you want?

[paddy]

Cotoneaster franchetti - i think one of the best bee shrubs. Taken over from the just-faded Escallonia CF Ball and Cherry Blossom. Also Salvia 'Hotlips' and common thyme.

[Kayleigh]

Lavender, Cotoneaster, foxglove and aquilegia..

[Juliet1200]

I went to buy some plants today to fill up a small patch that used to be lawn. I spent a while looking round the garden centre to see which plants had most bees on before I bought anything. French lavender was the winner by a long way - I was surprised by the difference between French and English!

My hardy geraniums, welsh poppies and hollyhocks are always pretty busy too.

I'm trying to re-work my garden at the moment and make it as wildlife (particularly bee) friendly as possible so this thread is brilliant

[Littlesparrow]

Just outside my garden on some common land are some large Lime or Linden trees, they have just come into flower and are so full of bumble bees that if you stand under them the buzzing sound is so loud you would think you were next to a bee hive.

[sunnydale]

I'm looking forward to my Sedums (Autumn Joy) flowering later in the Summer.
There can be up to 20 bees on each plant at any one time and the flowers last for ages!

If you haven't got any, it's a plant well worth adding to your wildlife garden!

Tracey

[faz]

lambs ear lots of bees even if greay and wet

[Claire Fifi]

Originally Posted by Littlesparrow

Just outside my garden on some common land are some large Lime or Linden trees, they have just come into flower and are so full of bumble bees that if you stand under them the buzzing sound is so loud you would think you were next to a bee hive.

And they smell great too! You have reminded me that there is a special Lime tree at Wisley (RHS Garden in Surrey. The bees get so "drunk" on the nectar that they are often completely overcome and can be found crawling underneath the tree..powerful stuff!RHS Plant Selector Tilia 'Petiolaris' AGM / RHS Gardening

In my garden the woody salvias and the grevillea are another favourite with bees. These shrubs flower over a very long period and are a sort of staple diet.

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by Littlesparrow

Just outside my garden on some common land are some large Lime or Linden trees, they have just come into flower and are so full of bumble bees that if you stand under them the buzzing sound is so loud you would think you were next to a bee hive.

There was a clump of this Lime tree in Bristol up by the childrens hospital, I parked under them once (just the once ) and was amazed, the trees seemed to pulse with bees.
The Eucalyptus I had was very similar there were bees and other insects on its blossoms day and night.