A new addition to my plots
All this time in lockdown and you would think that I had had enough time to write a blog post or two wouldn’t you? Where has that time gone? Days seem to have slipped by all running into one as there has been little to punctuate the time in any meaningful way. It isn’t true that NOTHING has happened. One of the things that has is my taking on another plot on the allotments next to my current two.
The Wildlife Trust used to use the plot as a demonstration garden to show people how they could have a wildlife garden in a normal sort of garden space. They have sadly had to give up the plot and so I have agreed to manage it – not change it from a wildlife plot.
It has all sorts of things on it: a large flower border, apple trees, hazel, a pond, sitting areas, a great bug hotel and beds that are a little empty at the moment but can soon be filled.
I have said that I will run the plot along permaculture principles which most allotmenteers would be very familiar with. Principle number 1 is observe and interact so I thought I would go and have a look around and see what is flowering/seeding/berrying at the moment as we have lots of beekeepers on the plots.
What is flowering in September?
I think this is Sedum Spectabile and the bees love it.
Oenothera or Evening Primrose for Hawkmoth, parasitic moths and bees.
Geranium – maybe Ann Folkard.
Valeriana Officianalis or valerian loved by hoverflies.
Verbena bonariensis loved by hoverflies, butterflies, bees of all sorts and sometime dragonflies.
T
Linaria purpurea or purple toadflax loved by bees.
There are also some lone flowers on an Osteospermum, Potentilla and Rudbeckia but they are not in their prime.
I wonder if these flowers are enough for this time of year or whether we should have more flowers. Perhaps some asters, single flowered dahlias and colchicums.
