THE MODERN MINT BLOG
In Part 2 of our interview with Essex Bees (here is Part One) Richard tells us about his interest in …
Essex Bees Interview (Part 1)
This is an interview with Richard from Essex Bees. We did this partly as a follow up to the interview with Rosybee and partly because the work the two Essex boys of Essex Bees do is fascinating – please do read on to learn more about how they became beekeepers! What is it Essex Bees do? Essex Bees set-up and manage bee hives with the support of private individuals, public bodies and businesses, mainly across the south and east of Essex. We also extol the virtues and benefits of not only honey bees but all pollinating insects by giving talks, …
Bee Friendly Plants
When choosing bee friendly plants the key ideas to look out for are: 1) Grow plants that are nectar rich and full of pollen. (So stay clear of overbred double flowers…) 2) Provide a number of flower shapes – flat disks and tubular flowers are great. 3) Plant in blocks – bees, being oh so efficient, want to fly to one spot and pick up as much nectar as possible. Don’t ask them to work hard, group your flowers together. We interviewed nursery woman Rosybee about the top 5 plants for bees. She said, “… borage, phacelia and echium are all …
Must-Read Books for Wildlife Gardening
We hope to inspire you with these must-read books for wildlife gardening – make time for them, and enjoy! 1) Start simply with Chris Baines… How to Make a Wildlife Garden 2) Enjoy the sharp wit of Henk Gerritsen… Henk Gerritsen: Essay on Gardening 3) We have always been a fan of botanist Ken Thompson… No Nettles Required: The Reassuring Truth About Wildlife Gardening 4) The lovely writing style of Val Bourne (along with her excellent knowledge) will inspire you… The Natural Gardener: The Way We All Want to Garden 5) We read this from Pam Lewis in one sitting… …