Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
12th June 2021
Gardening is Cool!
That’s according to 83% of the UK’s 18-34 year olds in a new study by Draper Tools. Apparently more than half of ‘young’ people would rather go to a garden centre than a night club. Just as well in the current climate. Almost 3 in 5 of the 18-34 year olds have spent more on gardening during the past 12 months than ever before and just over half said gardening is one of the things which has kept them going during lockdown.
I’m glad I was introduced to the joys of gardening by my parents, rather than a pandemic.
From Jungle to Joy
What a difference a couple of weeks make. Just a few weeks ago my garden resembled a jungle, with everything being very ‘green’, the lush, leafy growth slowly devouring pathways and it all looking a little like ‘neglect’. Just two weeks later, and with a healthy dose of sunshine, it has been magically transformed into a wildflower garden that could easily grace a space at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The transformation is not down to any hard landscaping, or prolific planting schemes but simply as a result of a laid-back approach, keeping the faith and waiting for things to bloom in their own time and unique way. If you look carefully at the photo, you will see some lovely herbaceous plants – lupins, foxgloves and alliums but the overall wonderful wild look is presented to you by …. weeds!
The predominant plants are in fact ground elder and ox-eyed daisies. Of course not everyone considers the latter to be a weed but there are many ‘old school’ gardeners who won’t give it ‘bed-room’, or room anywhere in their garden.
To me it is a brilliant example of how important attitude, perspective and patience are whilst gardening. Most people would have spent a lot of time, effort and money trying to remove all of these plants – and then replanting the space with more ‘acceptable’ or suitable plants.
Believe me, it’s far easier to work with nature than against her.
Berry Clever
I have also under planted my Chelsea-esque wildflower meadow with wild strawberries. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration – I have simply let the wild strawberries ‘do their thing’, instead of trying to limit them as I have done in previous years.
If you want to enjoy the fruits of your non-labour, but can’t bear to be as laid back about them as I’ve been, then wild strawberries are also easy to ‘tame’ and can be used to make lovely neat, clump-forming edges to a bed or border. You will have to be strict with them to keep the ‘edge’, but it’s definitely worth including them in your garden if you can. They can also be grown in containers and even hanging baskets, where they will be far less troublesome.
I confidently tell everyone that I have introduced the wild strawberries as ground cover, so as well as having the absolute joy of seeing the wild, white swathe of easy, undemanding flowers, I have a super supply of the sweetest wild strawberries.
If I do say so myself – I think I’ve got this gardening malarkey cracked!
Sweet(corn) Idea
I saw this great idea for my pet chickens recently. It keeps them entertained and cool in the hot weather.
Simply put some tinned sweetcorn, or peas, into muffin trays, fill with water and freeze.
When frozen turn them out and give them to your chickens to enjoy.
A friend told me that she does the same with frozen peas and grated carrots for her dog – I’ve promised Yogi we’ll give it a go.
Humble Bumble Plea
I am having a lot of messages asking for help to remove ‘bees nests’ and swarms’. It is proving to be a bit of a minefield as it’s not as straight forward as you think it should ‘bee’.
Firstly please make an effort to identify your bees – often they are wasps.
This year there seems to be a huge amount of buff bottomed (tailed) bumblebees around and they are adding to the confusion by commandeering nesting boxes and all sorts of unlikely habitats. I currently have a nest in an old riding hat – they are creative when it comes to house hunting.
If you have a bumblebee nest then it is not advisable to try to relocate it, as they will seldom survive. They only live for three or four months (before new Queens relocate) so please, on behalf of the bees, try to put up with them for that long. They rarely sting – unless provoked – and won’t swarm. If they look busy then they are far more interested in attending to their family than anything you might be doing.
It’s all about perception again … look at them as a gift, a chance to watch them and host them. And to do your bit for nature.
Bee Kind, Honey
If you see a swarm of honeybees, please know that they are only ‘resting’ whilst the scout bees look for a new home. Similarly they are very unlikely to sting. They have left their hives with a fully tummy of honey, making it hard to bend in order to sting and are preoccupied with keeping their Queen safe at a vulnerable time.
They will take off of their own accord once a new home has been located – usually after just a few hours but very occasionally after an overnight stay.
It is an amazing operation for them, and one that works exceptionally well when people don’t get in the way. Read about honeybees – educate yourself. I guarantee you will be mightily impressed, and very humbled, when you realise their incredible lifestyle and cycle. They put us to shame in every way imaginable, from work ethics and community responsibilities to self sufficiency and compassion.
So again, please just consider yourself privileged to see such a spectacular sight, keep children and pets away from them and don’t interfere.
If you feel you have to get involved, then do so by calling your local Bee Keepers Association – an experienced beekeeper will gladly come and collect them. If you have read my columns in the past, you should have this number by (or in) your phone – if you haven’t, please do it today. And please never, ever, ever, try to kill them. I have heard all sorts of horror stories that involve boiling water and even petrol. In this age of information, ignorance is a choice. A poor choice.
Radio 2 are currently running a campaign to ‘Help the Bees’, including suggestions for plants to use to encourage bees into your garden. That’s all very well, but it’s far more important not to murder them when they do drop by.
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