This morning, while I walked through my garden, I saw a bee on one of the flowers I planted. We have these trees in the back that have lots of flowers on them, and they’re covered in bees all day long. I’ve been seeing hummingbirds there, too. But I never seem to see bees in the flower garden I planted specifically for them to enjoy. So seeing just one this morning made me really happy.
There are so many metaphors in my garden: the bits I tried so hard to grow that never took root. The plants I have cared for season after season that have reached the end of their natural lives and will be cleared away for new plants. The flowers I pollinate myself. The scars where I pruned dead or dying stems. The new, delicate, hopeful growth.
And, of course, the bee.
If you haven’t already, I suggest you consider exploring adding some native plants. They’re great at drawing your native bees & other pollinators.
All of our plants are native! We got our seeds from a local nursery to be sure.
Still, some cornflower snuck in, but it won’t escape the patio.
What about Milkweed for butterflys. They also attract pollinators.
A few years ago, I bought one small native milkweed plant. I spread its seeds all over the yard, and now we have a bunch of plants all over the place, spreading their own seeds. I take them out with me when I walk Marlowe, and toss them around so we get even more to support our monarch population.
I think it is great that you have a flower garden.
I have been slowly replacing my front lawn with flowers. It is better for the environment. And there is no point of having a lawn. Every summer, it goes dry due to lack of rain. The Canadian wildfire smoke prevents it from raining.
Anyway, do you have coneflowers in your garden? How about lavender? Lavender helps keep mosquitoes away.