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  • Laburnum – Golden Rain Attracting the Bees

    It’s great to hear the Bees at work in the garden. The Laburnum tree is in full flower with its long trails of golden yellow flowers, a sight to behold. More important is the hum of the Bees busily collecting the pollen and pollinating the plants in the garden and surrounding area.

    The Laburnum, is a member of the Fabaceae family, also known a legume or peas and beans. However, it’s important to remember that all parts of the tree are poisonous, so due care is required.

    Any plant that can attract the Bees is so important because they will ensure our food supply as well as that of many other creatures. To learn more about Bees visit The Wildlife Trusts.

    Laburnum-close up with Bee
  • Tamarisk – Tamarix tetrandra UK Garden Highlight

    May brings out this early flowering Tamarisk – Tamarix tetrandra uk – in cascades of feathery pink blooms that brings beauty to any suitable garden. As a native of hotter and drier climates where arid land, including salty coastal areas prevail, it doesn’t seem like a plant suited for the UK. However, being so versatile it can grow well in a sunny, well drained spot, with natural defences against the heat, wind and salinity. 

    It is one of the many flowering shrubs that require pruning just after flowing as the following years flowers develop throughout the growing season. The shrub grows to it’s full potential of 2-4 meters over a couple of decades depending on how ideal the conditions are.  

    Tamarix tetrandra
  • Cosmos – Garden Stars That Shine

    The Daisy family, Asteraceae, is the second biggest and provides some of the best loved flowing plants we have. Cosmos are well ordered flowers with fine featherlike leaves that stand tall. The name Cosmos comes from the Greek for ‘ordered world’.

    They are well ordered and keep their form, even when massed together, giving a super colourful display in any border. Colours range from chocolate, through orange, magenta, pink and white. All with a yellow centre with radial petals, like little solar systems or galaxies in perfect synchronisation. A very apt name, Cosmos.

    Cosmos - multi-coloured

  • May Beetle vs June Bug – What to do?

    The May Beetle, just spotted it on 31st May or tomorrow it would be the June Bug. This one was shaded from the sun under a leaf of the rose bush. It was eating away at the bush but not a real cause for concern. The Green Fly and Black Fly, and other diseases are much more damaging as they attack the new growth and damage the developing Rose flower head.

    How Do I get Rid of May Beetles?

    No need. Unless they are in such numbers as to cause real damage, just leave them be. They are harmless, do not bite or sting, nor carry any specific disease to worry about.

    May Beetle taxonomy

    The May Beetle is known as the Common Cockchafer in its native Europe. It is part of the family Scarabaeidae or Beetle family that contains more than 35,000 species, ofter referred to as Scarabs. Its scientific name is the Melolontha melolontha.

    Melolontha melolontha - May Bug - May beetle - doodlebug

  • Mayflower for May Day

    May 1st opens with the flower that is often referred to as ‘May Blossom’ or simply, ‘May’. Found extensively in Europe the Common Hawthorn or Crataegus monogyna is part of the Rose family, Rosaceae.

    Whilst the Hawthorn can grow into a tree of some 30+ feet, it is often used in hedges and trimmed annually to keep its size and shape. However, when allowed to grow into a row of trees, you get the wall of white blossom that looks so impressive. Hawthorne is good for the ecology providing for birds and insects alike.

    Crataegus monogyna - Common Hawthorn - May Flower
  • Not a Common Lilac – Syringa pubescens

    There are lots of plants that are referred to as ‘Lilac’, but not all are the same family. This particular Lilac is from Korea and China, the Syringa pubescens. Flowering at the same time a the common Lilac, it can be seen in gardens of Europe more and more. In my own garden I have had one many years, but as a shady garden it survives but prefers full sun.

    These delicate tubular flowers can be anything from white to dark magenta and change as the flower develops. A much smaller, slower growing shrub than the Common Lilac.

    Syringa pubescens - Lilac