Bees galore!

Val has found that the nepetas and salvias in her garden have attracted a lot of bumblebees this year

- Val Bourne

I’VE moved my garden table and chairs from the front of the house to a cooler position close to the summerhouse. It’s partly to protect the plants in the stone paving right next to the house. You’d be surprised at how many ‘bigfoots’ trample the plants to death, and those plants are the Best Beloved’s pride and joy! It’s as if they’re walking over him, not his miniature pinks, scabiouses, and thymes.

The wonderful spring we’ve just enjoyed has meant that I’ve now got a grandstand view of the bees visiting my nepetas and salvias, close to the summerhouse. The first nepeta or catmint to flower was ‘Hill Grounds’ and this began in early May and then ‘Summer Magic’ followed. Both are new and excellent, although all nepetas are great bee plants.