Bee ready for spring!
Hi, I'm Judith, my husband Scott and I are co-founders of Jude's Garden. We're passionate about our garden and eagerly await the arrival of spring and the chance to get outside to retrieve it from the clutches of winter. Whether we're tending to it, relaxing in it, or inviting family and friends for a barbecue or cocktails, there's nothing like the outdoor life to bring a smile to our faces.
Springtime brings:
- longer days
- the first flowers
- the first leaves appearing on the trees
- morning birdsong
- putting away our heavy winter clothing
- waving goodbye to the winter months
This year, the 20th of March is when day and night will be of equal length as we welcome the spring equinox. Dark evenings are banished, and we enjoy the first warm rays of sunshine. Leaves and blossoms appear on the trees, and the hedgerows turn green. Tender shoots and flowers emerge, attracting butterflies and bees, and we wake to the sound of the birds morning chorus. Animals and insects are coming out of hibernation: hedgehogs, dormice, ladybirds, butterflies and bumblebees.
It's time to salvage our gardens, rake away the fallen leaves and debris and think about what to plant to fill them with colour and scent in the summer months.
Create the perfect habitat for bumblebees as they emerge from hibernation.
Bees are crucial for our planet, but sadly, recent years have seen their numbers decline. Flowers, vegetables and herbs provide a vital food source. If we can fill our gardens with nectar and pollen-rich plants, we can help to protect them. Not only will your outdoor space look beautiful, but you'll also help safeguard nature's delicate balancing act.
Queen bumblebees hibernate at the end of summer after the rest of the colony has died. After mating and building up fat from nectar and pollen, they will burrow underground until spring arrives. Emerging at the end of winter, they will feed before finding the perfect nest site to lay their eggs.
Vital for our ecosystem, they support the growth of trees, plants, flowers and crops. Encouraging them into our gardens by filling them with an abundance of tasty treats is one way that you can help.
10 easy ways to help bees offers tips and advice on how you can create the perfect environment for them.
Provide a nectar-rich garden.
There's an array of flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs to choose from if you want to introduce nectar (for energy) and pollen (for protein) into your garden:
- cosmos, sunflowers, sweet peas and geraniums
- raspberries and strawberries
- squashes and courgettes
- chamomile, rosemary and thyme
Include a range of flowering times and a variety of plants, and avoid the use of pesticides. If you have the space, introduce some trees, apples and cherries are the best. Leave some weeds in your garden, and let a small area grow wild bees love dandelions and thistles.
plants-for-bees offers information on what to plant to provide nectar and pollen-rich habitats.
Grow flowers and vegetables all year round.
If you're going to grow plants, you should start sowing the seeds in February and March. But with a chill in the air and the likelihood of morning frost, what's the solution?
Cold frames, or mini-greenhouses, provide a haven and are ideal for protecting your seedlings or hardening off bedding plants. By positioning it in a south-facing area of your garden, you will ensure that it gathers warmth from the sun and stores heat overnight.
Providing a 12-month growing period, you can enjoy tasty winter vegetables, salad greens, tomatoes, peppers, and so much more.
Various sizes are available to suit any outdoor space, and we offer a range of specifications.
View our cold frames for more details and select your perfect one.
- Judith Ray
