All of a buzz

Whenever we go out or come in at this time of year, we stop at the oregano growing in the front garden. Why, you might ask. What’s so intriguing? We’ve discovered oregano is a great bee attractant. There’s rarely less than three bees going around the flowers, even though it’s a fairly small clump. They’re usually big fat bumble bees with white backside, though there is the occasional slim-line honey bee visiting. The little white rumps wriggle around in ecstasy as they gorge themselves.

In the back garden it is undoubtedly the lavender that is the main attractant, though a fair number can be seen amid the mint at the moment.

It is wonderful to see so many busy buzzing bees. Our next door neighbour was complaining only the other day about the shortage of bees coming to pollinate his runner beans. I couldn’t help thinking I knew where they all were - in our garden. Even the lobelia & primulas growing in the pots in the walled garden have striped behinds sticking out of their flowers.

The new garden certainly is doing a grand job of attracting the insects. We’ve even had some butterflies, species never previously seen in our garden. Admittedly that does mean a few holey leaved plants as caterpillars eat their way through the leaves - a small price to pay for the beautiful insects that finally appear.