THE MODERN MINT BLOG
This week I gave a talk – Helping The Honeybee – to the lovely beekeeping group at Southend on Sea.
Here are some notes for those who didn’t have a chance to write down some of the ideas we spoke about and shared….
The Top Plants For Bees
- Helenium
- Sedum
- Echium
- Marjoram (a wonderful British native.)
- Oregano
- Eupatorium, also known as Joe Pye-Weed
- Borage
- Nepeta
- Veronicaastrum
- Teucrium
Phillyrea
If you want a hedge for around your apiary, you will not go too far wrong with planting the amazing, tough as old boots, Phillyrea.
Read plenty more about this shrub here.
Rosybee Nurseries
To stay up to date with the latest research on the best plants for bees, speak to Rosi Rollings at Rosybee Nurseries.
We interviewed her a few years ago now. But her nursery has grown plenty since then….in fact, she has now moved sight completely!
Helping The Honeybee
I was researching plants for bees, now although I no longer specialise in doing this (as I am making and teaching my first love, topiary) I would love to hear from anyone who can suggest to me the most valuable bee friendly plants in their garden.
Please do contact us if you have any thoughts about this!
Finally….
I was asked about rabbit proof planting. Take a look at these, but… good luck with that!
And the nurseries I recommend you look for plants from, would be:
- Great Dixter Gardens
- Beth Chatto Gardens
- Marchants Hardy Plants
- Knoll Gardens
- Phoenix Perennial Plants, Marina Christopher’s nursery
Thank you everyone at Southend on Sea Beekeepers – enjoy your summer of helping the honeybee!
And check out my Topiary work here.
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!