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.
Start of the Whitby Topiary Library
I have been offered a space here in the centre of Whitby, south-facing aspect, with some raised beds in, so that I can make a Topiary Library. In my head, a topiary library is a place to showcase the common (and then not so common) shapes you can make out of topiary. With classical topiary plants, as well as some more unusual pieces. This Topiary Library can act as a reference for people to learn more about pruning and clipping. The space is small but the aspect is great and the beds are deep enough to put some plants in. …
Delivery After Dark – From the Makers of The Amelia Project
Last week I spent most nights stood in cold water streams on the moors of North Yorkshire, helping to film a new project called Delivery After Dark from the makers of the Amelia Project. I worked on the Amelia Project back at the end of 2024, lending my terrible vocal talents to a small part in the episode Didius Julianus. But this project is something new – and exciting! – and thankfully only needed me to be filmed, rather than to actually say anything. But not only did I have to stand in cold moving water at midnight, I also …
Modern Topiary (The Book) – Message From Lady Clippers, And Others!
My topiary book – Modern Topiary – has recently been put out as a PDF, which can be read for free. (Have a look here to download and read/share it!) Then last week I received a lovely email from Ann Perkowski of Lady Clippers, who are topiary and pruning specialists in New York (Ann is a brilliant pruning teacher too, who teaches at New York Botanical Garden… check out her work and Lady Clippers website.) Hi Darren, I had to write you how much I love reading your Modern Topiary. I’m not sure I’ll ever be quite done with it because I’m …