Bee Friendly Plants

We all know the importance of doing our bit to encourage bees and other pollinating insects back to our gardens, and more importantly provide them with a food source; it doesn't occur to many people that pollinating flowers is actually a side benefit of what bees and other insects are about - trying to live!

It is a common misconception that any flower is 'good for bees' - but in reality, like us, they are fickle creatures and have their favourites. People also wrongly think that bees prefer pretty flowers to pollinate over vegetables - but that is not the case. There are many fruits and vegetables, as well as herb flowers that honey bees simply love to collect nectar from and consequently pollinate.

Bees also collect pollen to feed to their young inside the hive, and if you are lucky enough to look at the honeycomb, you will find all the different coloured pollen, stored for future grub feeding times.

What bees, and other pollinating insects, really love is diversity - a bit like we humans! So don't just grow fruit and veg and think that because they are bee friendly you have done 'your bit' - grow some ornamentals to bring colour and cheer to the garden or allotment (and in turn you) - and extra diversity for what should be every gardeners best friend, the honey bee. And remember that with vegetables such as Brassicas they only become 'Bee Friendly' when they are allowed to run to flower.