It
really is an absolute joy to see the first bulbs of spring
bursting into life in early spring, sometimes even pushing their
way through a dusting of snow. Leaves of daffodils and
snowdrops emerge from the frozen earth as early as December,
but it is the first hint of colour from fresh new flowers that
really brings a breath of spring to the garden. These useful
plants, once their petals have opened, can literally be
lifesavers for a range of insects, but especially for
bumblebees and honeybees. Many early flowering bulb species
and varieties, whether native or not, supply nectar and pollen
to insects freshly emerged from hibernation, as long as the
flower shape enables access to insects. Bulbs should be
planted in September or October for next spring, so there is
still time to add some to your wildlife garden this month.
Bulbs are immensely versatile plants, enhancing the garden at
a time when a little colour goes a long way and nectar and
pollen for insects is a precious commodity in short supply.
Where
possible it is always advisable to plant native if attracting
wildlife to your garden is a priority, but there are many
non-native bulbs that will support insects. And here is the
first dilemma. In most gardens the earliest bulb, and one we
all wait for with bated breath, is the snowdrop – but is it
native or non-native? There is still controversy amongst
botanists about this question so best to ignore them and plant
snowdrops anyway, for the sheer pleasure they bring after a
cold, dark winter. Galanthus nivalis, the probable native
species, is visited for its pollen by bumblebees and early honeybees
if they are out of hibernation, which both bees after the
winter. There is a huge
variety of snowdrops available, many of which have plenty of
pollen on offer. Even some of the double petalled beauties
(often with the suffix ‘flore pleno’) still have pollen
although the flower may be constricted, making it difficult
for insects to gain access to the stamens. Make a note
out the varieties you like when you see them in bloom – if the yellow stamens
are visible and a dusting of pollen comes off when you touch
them, they may well be a good source of food for these early
insects. Galanthus gracilis and G. ikariae as well as
varieties of G. nivalis, are good standbys.
Hot on
the heels of the first snowdrop comes Eranthis, the winter
aconite. This is not a native plant but does occur in some
wilder places where it has escaped from gardens and become
naturalised. This bright yellow bulb is not to everyone’s
taste, but insects love it as the bowl shaped flower means
that the stamens are accessible and the pollen available, and
it does provide a real splash of early colour. It bridges the
short gap between first snowdrops and the earliest crocuses
which are the next bulbs to spring into life in most gardens.
We have no true native spring-flowering crocus (the nearest
thing is the meadow saffron which is an autumn flowerer) but
there are crocuses of all shapes, sizes and colours and with
such a variety available there should be something in this
genus to suit everyone. Variations on white, cream , yellow
and purple can all be found although the paler colours are
probably more attractive to insects, while the brighter
colours may attract the attention of your local house
sparrows!
Not
all crocuses open enough to reveal their pollen and of the
many types available, those listed in catalogues with Latin
names rather than variety names, are generally a better bet
than their more flamboyant cousins. The true species are
designed to be pollinated by passing insects and are therefore
more likely to appeal to our own native bees. Especially
useful species are the mauve Crocus tommasinianus, and C.
vernus which are both very early flowering, and C. chrysanthus,
especially the pale variety ‘Cream Beauty’. Varieties of C.
chrysanthus have the bonus of a sweet scent, which is very
welcome in the early spring.
The
earliest daffodils begin to flower in March and our own two
species of native Narcissus are worthy of a place in any
garden. The commoner of the two, N. pseudonarcissus, still
survives in the wild in some quantity especially in the border
counties between England and Wales and in the Lake District (Wordworth’s
‘host of golden daffodils’). In some places now this stunning
little bulb has colonised roadside verges and if introduced to
the garden will seed and spread quite rapidly in fine grass.
The Tenby daffodil, N. obvalaris, is a stronger yellow than
the wild daffodil and is found mainly in Pembrokeshire. Both
have valuable pollen for early bees. If you prefer more
glamorous daffs and narcissi, try to choose varieties with a
strong scent which can be an indication of a good nectar
supply, and those where the stamens are readily visible and
loaded with pollen.
Having
set your sights on a good variety of the earliest bulbs for
next year’s spring garden you need to find a supplier of some
of those mentioned. Many garden centres have a good
variety and some on-line suppliers will have wildlife friendly
bulbs. Spring bulbs look at
their best when naturalised in drifts in grass so buy as many
as you can afford. The easiest way to
achieve this effect is to scatter them randomly on the ground
and plant exactly where they fall. Don’t be tempted to adjust
your planting to space them out a little – they will soon lose
their random nature. Once established many will self seed and
rapidly colonise areas beneath trees where the soil may be too
dry for much else.
Any
early flowering plants in our gardens are a delight after the
long days of winter, but what you actually plant now to bring
colour to the garden in spring can have a real impact on the
earliest insect wildlife that needs food. Choose wisely
now and next spring could see your local
bees off to a good start.
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