Page 5 - Bumblebee Conservation Trust Buzzword Magazine July 2020

Flower focus: Aquilegias

Beautiful, dainty and much loved by
bumblebees, Aquilegias are distinctive
long-stemmed plants with flowers that
nod and curtsy elegantly. The native
species Aquilegia vulgaris has purple
flowers, however there is an almost
limitless range of colours and shapes
in cultivated varieties, most of which
appeal to bumblebees. They are
extremely hardy and grow well in beds
Harvesting seeds from your existing plants and borders, in full sun or partial shade
and in any soil type so long as it’s not
too wet or too dry. It’s not too late to
The appreciation of the benefits that gardening and tending to plants have for our sow seeds in late summer or early
physical and mental well-being, has probably never been higher than during the autumn to bloom in next year’s borders.
spring and summer months we have spent in lockdown. During this time, shop If you are already growing some, dead-
closures meant that many of us had to invigorate our spirit of frugality and mend heading them at this time will encourage
and make do in our gardens. So, in this edition we wanted to highlight one of the them to keep flowering and cutting them
simplest and cheapest ways to increase the number of bee-friendly flowers in your right back after flowering will encourage
garden - harvesting seed from your existing plants. It’s also a wonderful activity to do new growth next year.
with children or grandchildren to keep boredom at bay during the summer holidays.

Keep an eye on your garden over the Bee friendly baskets
coming months to see when flowers Last summer we encouraged people to
have developed into dry seed heads or create their own bee-friendly hanging
capsules. A good sign that they are ready baskets and we were delighted to receive
is when the seeds come loose when this photo from Trust member, Norma
the head is gently crumbled between Spence, who lined this hanging basket
your fingers or, with some flowers, like with ferns, and planted it with nasturtiums,
poppies, they will rattle when you give Bidens, Bacopa and trailing Fuchsia.
them a shake.
Next, simply cut off the heads at the stem Bush vetch, collected and stored by Katy
and place into a paper bag or envelope Malone ready for sowing
upside down to dry. You can also spread
them out over old newspaper in a cool Even if you don’t have any suitable
and airy space to allow them to dry out. bee-friendly plants to harvest from,
Once fully dry and crumbly to touch, you ask someone you know who does
can discard the capsules, then store if you can harvest seed from their
your seeds in labelled envelopes in a dry garden. Harvested seeds or the
place until they are ready to be used.
plants you grow from them can
Do share your photos with us next year - make wonderful gifts for friends and
we would love to see the results! Photos: Knapweed seeds ready for drying; family. You could even organise a
Inset; seeds ready for planting and bee-friendly seed swap with friends
4 5
Knapweed in full flower or neighbours.