How to grow a bee-friendly cutting garden without using floral foam or imported blooms
Eleanor Ashford
The gentle buzz of bees is one of nature's most charming accompaniments to a garden afternoon. These diligent workers are as indispensable to our gardens as the sun itself, ferrying pollen from petal to petal and ensuring that the season's most ravishing blooms return each year. Yet, as we become more aware of the impact our gardening choices have on the broader ecosystem, the challenge is clear: how can we cultivate the beauty of a cutting garden while maintaining a respectful partnership with our pollinating friends?
Selecting Bee-Friendly Blooms
Creating a garden that's both a visual feast and a sanctuary for bees begins with the choice of plants. The good news is that the blooms most irresistible to our winged companions are also delightfully colourful, bringing vibrancy to any cutting garden. Look to the classics: lavender, foxglove, and echinacea are certain to draw in bees with their nectar-rich offerings. You'll notice the bees are particularly fond of plants with simple, single flowers, as these generally have more accessible nectar than the more complex double blooms.
When I first began my adventures in gardening here at Kingswood Green, I quickly learned that not all flowering plants offer the same sustenance to bees. Seasonal flowers such as borage and sunflowers make wonderful selections, not to mention the splendour of a patch of wild meadow flowers like poppies and cornflowers, which offer both beauty and sustenance. Not only are these perennials ideal for pollinators, but they provide a kaleidoscope of colour that even the most seasoned gardener would find hard to resist.
The Homegrown Advantage
In an era where fast-growing trends and expediency often supersede quality, there is something rather gratifying about nurturing plants from seed to bloom. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics or economy; it’s a way to minimise environmental impact. Imported blooms, often grown using high-energy processes and transported across vast distances, contribute more than their fair share to our carbon footprint. By growing your flowers locally and seasonally, you are not only practising sustainability but also preserving the unique character of your gardening region.
A few autumns ago, spurred on by the desire to unwind the rampant use of imported flowers at home, I made the plunge into a purely homegrown bouquet. The pride of such self-reliance cannot be overstated, and although I occasionally hanker for the peachy hues of a distant bloom, knowing the full story of each petal in my arrangements is worth the trade off.
Say No to Floral Foam
The environmental sins of floral foam are often masked by its excellence at holding blooms in place and extending their life. Its allure is understandable, particularly to those echoing the memories of great aunties and their precise arrangements proudly displayed on dining room tables. However, floral foam is a type of single-use plastic that breaks down into microplastics, threatening ecosystems both terrestrial and aquatic.
Fortunately, seasoned gardeners and arrangers have long practiced traditional methods that align beautifully with our goals of a bee-friendly, eco-conscious garden. Seek out sustainable alternatives such as reusable floral frogs or chicken wire. A rustic jug or a charming vintage vase can often hold your flowers just as securely and in more picturesque fashion than any foam.
Composing with Care
The art of arranging is one where mindfulness meets creativity. As you harvest your flowers, do so with a gentle hand and a discerning eye. A clean cut with sharp shears or a floral knife not only prolongs the life of the flower in the vase but also ensures the health of the plant it’s taken from. Harvest in the early morning when the garden is still dew kissed and the stems are plump with water. Foliage should be stripped from below the water line to prevent rot and thus excessive bacterial growth inside the vase.
In arranging your gathered blooms, consider using different heights and textures. There's a joy in the juxtaposition of your pollinator favourites and more structural plants such as grasses or seed heads. This juxtaposition is often a reflection of the wider landscape, bringing in a touch of the wild.
Mindful Maintenance
Gardens are never a ‘set and forget’ affair. A bee-friendly cutting garden demands ongoing attention not simply a duty, but a joy to return to repeatedly. The vibrant life of such a garden changes with the seasons, offering new surprises with every visit.
Alongside a good watering and the occasional gentle feeding, de-heading your flowers ensures continuous blooms. Allow some blooms to go to seed; they’ll provide natural feed for pollinators and birds, and sow themselves for next season. Leaving a part of your garden a little wild, perhaps a corner less tidily kept, only invites more bees and beneficial creatures to come and stay.
A Personal Reflection
When I pause to look back on my personal journey with bee-friendly gardening, every encounter and experiment has taught that gardening, much like life, flourishes with love and intention. It’s about finding the balance where beauty and nature work in concert rather than opposition. It’s a philosophy that resonates beyond the soil and reaches into our stewardship of every green space we touch.
To be part of this era, where sustainability and eco-conscious decisions are at the forefront of public discourse, is both a responsibility and a privilege. A bee-friendly cutting garden is more than a project; it's a testament to our commitment to respect and nurture the natural world. I hope your own back garden, whether vast or small, grand or modest, becomes a refuge for you and the bees alike. Every swirl of colour, every hum and hover, brings us back to the earth beneath our feet. So, let your cutting garden grow, blossom, and buzz with the busy life it supports.
Selecting Bee-Friendly Blooms
Creating a garden that's both a visual feast and a sanctuary for bees begins with the choice of plants. The good news is that the blooms most irresistible to our winged companions are also delightfully colourful, bringing vibrancy to any cutting garden. Look to the classics: lavender, foxglove, and echinacea are certain to draw in bees with their nectar-rich offerings. You'll notice the bees are particularly fond of plants with simple, single flowers, as these generally have more accessible nectar than the more complex double blooms.
When I first began my adventures in gardening here at Kingswood Green, I quickly learned that not all flowering plants offer the same sustenance to bees. Seasonal flowers such as borage and sunflowers make wonderful selections, not to mention the splendour of a patch of wild meadow flowers like poppies and cornflowers, which offer both beauty and sustenance. Not only are these perennials ideal for pollinators, but they provide a kaleidoscope of colour that even the most seasoned gardener would find hard to resist.
The Homegrown Advantage
In an era where fast-growing trends and expediency often supersede quality, there is something rather gratifying about nurturing plants from seed to bloom. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics or economy; it’s a way to minimise environmental impact. Imported blooms, often grown using high-energy processes and transported across vast distances, contribute more than their fair share to our carbon footprint. By growing your flowers locally and seasonally, you are not only practising sustainability but also preserving the unique character of your gardening region.
A few autumns ago, spurred on by the desire to unwind the rampant use of imported flowers at home, I made the plunge into a purely homegrown bouquet. The pride of such self-reliance cannot be overstated, and although I occasionally hanker for the peachy hues of a distant bloom, knowing the full story of each petal in my arrangements is worth the trade off.
Say No to Floral Foam
The environmental sins of floral foam are often masked by its excellence at holding blooms in place and extending their life. Its allure is understandable, particularly to those echoing the memories of great aunties and their precise arrangements proudly displayed on dining room tables. However, floral foam is a type of single-use plastic that breaks down into microplastics, threatening ecosystems both terrestrial and aquatic.
Fortunately, seasoned gardeners and arrangers have long practiced traditional methods that align beautifully with our goals of a bee-friendly, eco-conscious garden. Seek out sustainable alternatives such as reusable floral frogs or chicken wire. A rustic jug or a charming vintage vase can often hold your flowers just as securely and in more picturesque fashion than any foam.
Composing with Care
The art of arranging is one where mindfulness meets creativity. As you harvest your flowers, do so with a gentle hand and a discerning eye. A clean cut with sharp shears or a floral knife not only prolongs the life of the flower in the vase but also ensures the health of the plant it’s taken from. Harvest in the early morning when the garden is still dew kissed and the stems are plump with water. Foliage should be stripped from below the water line to prevent rot and thus excessive bacterial growth inside the vase.
In arranging your gathered blooms, consider using different heights and textures. There's a joy in the juxtaposition of your pollinator favourites and more structural plants such as grasses or seed heads. This juxtaposition is often a reflection of the wider landscape, bringing in a touch of the wild.
Mindful Maintenance
Gardens are never a ‘set and forget’ affair. A bee-friendly cutting garden demands ongoing attention not simply a duty, but a joy to return to repeatedly. The vibrant life of such a garden changes with the seasons, offering new surprises with every visit.
Alongside a good watering and the occasional gentle feeding, de-heading your flowers ensures continuous blooms. Allow some blooms to go to seed; they’ll provide natural feed for pollinators and birds, and sow themselves for next season. Leaving a part of your garden a little wild, perhaps a corner less tidily kept, only invites more bees and beneficial creatures to come and stay.
A Personal Reflection
When I pause to look back on my personal journey with bee-friendly gardening, every encounter and experiment has taught that gardening, much like life, flourishes with love and intention. It’s about finding the balance where beauty and nature work in concert rather than opposition. It’s a philosophy that resonates beyond the soil and reaches into our stewardship of every green space we touch.
To be part of this era, where sustainability and eco-conscious decisions are at the forefront of public discourse, is both a responsibility and a privilege. A bee-friendly cutting garden is more than a project; it's a testament to our commitment to respect and nurture the natural world. I hope your own back garden, whether vast or small, grand or modest, becomes a refuge for you and the bees alike. Every swirl of colour, every hum and hover, brings us back to the earth beneath our feet. So, let your cutting garden grow, blossom, and buzz with the busy life it supports.