Wildlife gardens can be a place of beauty and harmony for humans and a place of shelter and forage for wildlife too.
Nectar rich Borage – Borago officinalis (Great in salads or drinks!)
As gardeners we can create green corridors and sanctuaries for us and our wildlife. We can all help to conserve the natural world. Simply choosing plants or seeds that are not produced with chemicals as some are drenched in insecticide, will be the best way to start. The insecticide designed to kill insects not wanted by plant breeders are also toxic to the very Bees and Butterflies we want to attract. The perfect storm is ahead.
Astrantia Roma and 3 species of Bumble Bee
Intensive farmland, loss of natural habitats and increased use of chemicals have all contributed to an alarming loss of wildlife. It’s a desert out there. Our gardens can be a a much needed refuge. Bees and other pollinators do vital work – we have evolved in harmony, their job provides us with food. An apple a day would not be possible. Please read the Buglife report for a list of foods we would go without, if we do not wake up and care for our pollinators.
Phacelia tanacetifolia and Early male Bumblebee Bombus pratorum
In a fast moving world often laden with stress, spending time watching the interaction of pollinator and plant or tiny Blue Tit collecting moth caterpillars for it’s young is a total uplifting joy. Listening to a Song thrush tapping a snail shell open or the sound of bird song is one of life’s greatest pleasures. A high so intense, its hard to beat.
Blue Tit
In the winter months, those flashes of colour as birds replace flowers, are thrilling.
Happy to sit near by, one of our friendly robins
At home, my own garden has traditional borders, trees, hedge and a vegetable garden, a small wildlife pond and I choose to grow plants organically. But no matter how small the plot anyone can grow for wildlife. A pot of chives, left to flower is a great source of pollen.
Chive Flowers
I’ve chosen to grow plants that work best in my area of Bedfordshire, plants that are beautiful and provide nectar, pollen, forage and shelter opportunities.
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Hawthorn Berries
Winter
I am currently updating this page to include all of the wildlife friendly plants I grow, I hope it will help.
Happy Wildlife Gardening!
Gardening Jules 
I love chives!
Julie, I’ve been missing your blog. Hope all is well.
Hi Cynthia, I have been unwell annoyingly. I had been powering through various colds and bugs since Christmas and come March was flat on my back for almost a month, seems I am getting older! Now getting back to normal, that’s me and my garden, so not much to report. I am way behind with most things but we have had some good weather lately, which always helps. I hope you are enjoying some good weather too. Best wishes.
Seems like we had similar winters! Glad you are getting back to normal, and thanks for letting me know. Take good care of yourself.
You too, Cynthia. 🙂
Hi Julie,
I aspire to having a beautiful suburban garden but I need to put more hours in. Tired of paying terrible prices for herbs I planted a variety on the weekend. I planted chives – will mine get those beautiful purple flowers too? Hope so.
I have some keen gardener friends that I will email with the link to your blog.
Louise
Hi Louise, thanks for looking at the veg garden page, as you can see its a work in progress. Chives are best when planted in full sun, the flowers are edible too and look lovely on a salad. I know just what you mean about time, I work in other folks gardens so finding time for my own isn’t always easy. Good luck with your herbs, the thrill of picking your own is a lot more satisfying than buying any shop bought stuff, plus you know how its grown and whats been put on it.
I didn’t know you could eat the chive flowers thanks for that. Happy gardening this weekend.
I love to add the buds of the chive flowers. They are more compact and taste of light onion – also look a pretty shape.
Regards Janine
My bees love phacelia and I distribute the seeds from plants from untreated seeds – no neonics – to anyone who will plant them.
Regards Janine
Hi Janine, I grow Phacelia here too, one of my top flowers for pollinators, makes a lovely cut flower too. The seeds are easy to save and germinate incredibly easy – a great seed to share with others. I agree its the ‘untreated’, that’s so important – the seed we buy in originally can be toxic. Love your Insect Hotel – a very inspiring design!
Wonderful pics, thank you. 🙂