The grape hyacinth flows like a river of blue alongside backyard borders, hedgerows and woodland areas. A small, hardy plant that does not appear to thoughts the chilly. It has patiently waited for the bees whereas the crocuses withered in late frosts.
These plump, purple-blue flowers are receiving many bee guests as spring awakes.
Like our toadflax, grape hyacinth spreads shortly to fill beds and borders. If you happen to do not thoughts flowers that select the place they wish to go (I do not thoughts, it is my concept of lazy gardening), then grape hyacinth seems to be fairly when planted beneath timber and left to wander throughout the garden (a really charming planting scheme I’ve seen in neighboring gardens).
If you happen to choose a tidier backyard, you would strive planting grape hyacinth in a spring container as an Easter current for the bees. However I am unable to promise it is going to keep contained.
I got here throughout just a few backyard escapees throughout an area stroll. Grape hyacinth and cowslips bolting beneath the gate.
The dandelions are additionally popping out and a few are rising up within the timber.
The soil continues to be too moist in our backyard to do a lot – not that a lot must be completed. Mulching our beds and containers with gravel, bark or leaves in October has helped to decelerate the expansion of weeds this spring, though the lengthy, chilly winter has most likely helped too.
After a second serving of snow in March we put the bee home again within the shed to maintain heat. I additionally anticipated the frogspawn to freeze but it surely has survived. Nevertheless, we did lose one among our goldfish, Zachary, after the thaw. John buried him on the backside of the backyard with our different two fish beneath the stones.
When the climate frustrates your gardening, as in beekeeping, there may be little else to do however make plans. I have been eyeing up the lungwort (pulmonaria) that is sprung up uninvited in my mother or father’s backyard (and which my step dad calls ‘weed’). It might look good rising within the shade of our ivy.
The lungwort hasn’t made itself any extra fashionable by planting itself proper exterior my mother or father’s entrance door. This busy flight path has been in a standoff between bee and human every time the door is opened. I might present you a close-up picture of those decided little bugs, however I am not in a position to bend down as simply with my digital camera today.
John and I predict our personal new arrival in July. For now, the bees, birds, fish and frogs can maintain themselves, and I believe they are going to do exactly high quality.
NEXT POST: Within the bee backyard from Could to June.