How to Make Your Garden Bird and Bee Friendly This Summer
Having a garden is a beautiful luxury which adds to the value of your health, lifestyle, and home, but it is also a fantastic way to contribute to the environment. It creates a haven for birds and bees to flourish in the hustle and bustle of our cities and urban areas by providing food and water for these busy workers. Here is a list of indigenous and non-indigenous plants to help bring our favourite pollinators into your garden this summer.
Indigenous Plants:
Many South African beekeepers advise planting indigenous flowers in your garden to attract birds and bees. Not only are our naturally occurring plants great sources of food, but they are also better for the environment and water usage. Here are the indigenous plants recommended for attracting birds and bees.
- Sweet Thorn
- Karee
- Agapanthus
- Aloes
- Bush Willows
- Tree Fuchsia
- Asparagus Fern
- Cape Violets
- Clivia
- Euryops Daisy
- Felicia
- Gazania
- Carpet Geranium
- Ribbon Bush
- Lion’s Ear
- Butterfly Bush
- Cape honeysuckle
Non-Indigenous Plants:
While indigenous plants are the prime choice for South African gardens, there are a variety of non-indigenous plants to add colour to your garden while producing enough nectar to attract and feed sunbirds and bees. Here is a list of our favourite non-indigenous plants nectar-producing plants for your garden.
- Alyssums
- Forget-me-nots
- Iris
- Hollyhock
- Michaelmas Daisies
- Lavender
- Poppies
- Salvia
- Sunflowers
If you plan on having an outdoor herb garden for cooking, make sure to add a few plants which are great for bees.
Borage
Chives
Fennel
Mint
Marjoram
Oregano
Rosemary
Thyme
Keep birds and bees in your garden all year round by planting flowers which bloom in different seasons. A large variety of plants and some shallow water pans or bird baths will make your garden a favourite location for wildlife. If you have limited garden space, plant flowers with blue, purple, yellow, and pink blooms as bees prefer these colours and are more likely to visit. Always use an organic and non-toxic insecticide if you need one as you don’t want to put in all the effort of creating the perfect garden and present toxic plants to your flying visitors.
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28 Sep 2018
Author Lillian Rencken