THE original name for this article was going to be ‘Bob bravely begs to bring back big beautiful British butterflies by buying bountiful blue buddleja butterfly bushes’. Apologies for the alliteration – and what’s worse, it’s not very good advice.
It all started when I found myself shouting abuse at the TV when a well-meaning but naïve presenter was promoting Buddleja davidii as “good for butterflies as they’re rich in nectar”. Which, indeed, they are. The problem is we do not really need more flowers for butterflies – what we really need is more suitable foliage for butterfly caterpillars.
Denne historien er fra July 29, 2023-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra July 29, 2023-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters
