There is nothing quite like sitting out on the patio with a brew, watching a bumblebee that looks far too heavy for its own wings navigate a spike of lavender. Honestly, watching these absolute units buzz around is top-tier free entertainment. They work hard for their supper, so the least we can do is put on a decent spread.
The Great Lavender Buffet
Right now, my lavender is doing all the heavy lifting. It is practically a 24/7 all-you-can-eat buffet for the local pollinators. Watching a plump bumblebee land on a purple floret, do a bit of mid-air acrobatics, and get completely covered in pollen is brilliant to see. You do not need a massive, sprawling garden to make a difference; a few good container pots can easily turn a patio into the hottest local bee pub on the block. Currently, I've got five containers, all lined up for the Bees.
Incoming Supply Drop: The Dwarf Lilac
To keep the local bee community well-fed, you have to play the long game. Lavender is fantastic for summer, but what about early spring when the hungry queens stumble out of hibernation desperate for a snack?
That's where my new addition comes in. I have ordered a dwarf lilac tree, and I will be adding the it in a few days time when it arrives on my doorstep. Once it is wrestled into its massive corner pot, it will provide a huge burst of early nectar next spring just when the bees need it most. Teamed up with the summer lavender, it creates a proper tag-team effort to keep the diner open for months.
Plus, when winter rolls around and the lilac drops its leaves to look like a sad bare stick, I can just wrap fairy lights around the branches and call it festive décor. Win-win.
At the end of the day, helping out the bees is as simple as picking the right plants, sitting back, and letting them get on with it. Now I just have to get that giant planter ready for the new arrival!
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