My Mama has been here to play this weekend and we've been busy as bees in the garden. Following advice from the
Bumblebee Conservation Trust we've been upping the
bee-friendliness.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1fOmEwJzc0SKotvP-OpCV19Qzk3zkEob8YSFVzi7rRi-iELVQYNRJrfsFodSpfLYzMqxg_s7W4YqFFiUAp4sPSoVCzdIdtJfFaT3mlGwBMrFxw8WDgoQAemENvenRGDWZe35xYWJX68/s400/Lavenders.JPG)
This mainly consists of trying to ensure a long season of flowers which make bees happy - as a rule these are flowers with easy access to their pollen. As well as more lavenders and
thymes we planted amongst other things a
Cotoneaster:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93HX_Hl7Hw2HwMtE-tvMgZ4bjNOL5ffCrPHzzY-aArpPYv2h-6qM2e5pERDK5SYHTSn5_f5r3SeUZtoHTeuRtLsn8u5zUx7emNeHccYyOM6a1-8bSdKcJtXc5_Ax5mSFhofzdTwycHq4/s400/Cotoneaster.JPG)
a
Ceanothus:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bg1fuiV-3IrUW9gP6D1ex6yv6lrAXYFQf255mxS26jZcNhmnRWK7EbG2Q1ZF4ZdP5eOy0aYWBfnux0RUpWmYMXscp4btHIn1bif1mACQ3Wgn6dTmuGI0Hs6NLBPCCknPVwKultxC9rU/s400/Ceanothus.JPG)
and some
Hebes:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRd8WCgF7gnK26xW8DDNuz-_IPC-h0FuZzYCYiwQMx-N2XLhn_R0-a7k_8N_mIwSj_SnhnuGQD7KZoWUe6lkuLCzmG-jCDs8qJIJq12cOMBBM74XmxMTgXmMDqTgwQ-SHn6pxYX8GZFT4/s400/Hebes.JPG)
In an ironic twist we disturbed a
common carder bee nest in the mossy margins of the front lawn when tidying that up. Luckily I don't think it was damaged, just revealed to prying eyes which were both amazed to see it and sad to have upset them. I somehow forgot to get a photo in all the excitement and by the time I went to see if I could get one this morning they had pulled their mossy blanket safely back over. I'm so delighted to have seen the nest and know that my garden is already a home for bees and so glad that they seem to have been able to make it safe again.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvo93abNRULedcEeWQl1nkEk_L9eTtN2qMq3iDKUE8oFlr89i1lMO472QBWxGrO-vqdWwZCaMl_EpIpi-UFNqtIewwaqdxpIdXu4_1KjL_dvV0ioCMB8Ul8QGsVxUf-T1o23Ew0YkvNs/s400/Wild+Rose.JPG)
Another much less disruptive thing I do (which works well for my lazier side) is try and keep some wild areas and wild flowers - this seems to be a big attraction:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEJ0x9AuKJh0Whj7f2wVlJANkS3-TXgpQaiPbQ4AqZ5G3R0t3oJ96RmCAczTpvtkqbV_3OBafGFZjAzvYgiKDx_q6iF9WVE7XJBifQzqfVWTiPfwft21ByC5BxK_bh0FVQ9IhWLaBnUA/s400/Bee+on+bramble.JPG)
and not just for the bees. I know that newts and frogs are making good use of the wild spots too. All wildlife welcome as I try and create a pretty and friendly town garden. Bee friendly to all :o)
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Comments
Very with you on encouraging as much wildlife as poss; I also love to see the butterflies flocking around the humble buddleia.
Your garden looks lovely.