Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Ricado on June 14, 2006, 19:35:04

Title: shrubs for bees to use to then pollinate tomatoes
Post by: Ricado on June 14, 2006, 19:35:04
im trying to attract more bees into the garden, and also to help with pollination.

Im looking for small to medium sized shrubs, particularly interested in white cluster flowering shrubs.  Can anyone recommend anything ? Prices would be useful.  Thought about viburnums, but dont really know enough to know what to choose  ;)
Title: Re: shrubs for bees to use to then pollinate tomatoes
Post by: flowerlady on June 14, 2006, 19:53:32
Bees and bumbles can only see blue I believe!!

borage, hyssop, lavander, mallow, mints, nepeta, sage, thymes  :D ;) 8)

also Morning Glory up the bean trellis helps  ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: shrubs for bees to use to then pollinate tomatoes
Post by: saddad on June 14, 2006, 19:58:09
They see the other colours, but not as we know it! Why are all the early flowers yellow?
I really appreciate that quote Flower Lady!
Title: Re: shrubs for bees to use to then pollinate tomatoes
Post by: flowerlady on June 14, 2006, 20:07:08
perhaps to wake us all up from the doldrums of the winter months  ::)
Title: Re: shrubs for bees to use to then pollinate tomatoes
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 14, 2006, 20:59:43
Honeybees are specialists; they only visit a single type of flower at one time. Other bees are generalists though, and visit whatever they come across. I found a page on bee plants here http://www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/PENotes/BeePlants.htm .