Could there be a more British combo than planting lavender and sunflowers. Not necessarily together – but they are both classic garden plants that are easy to grow and bring us huge amounts of pleasure.
Now the RSPB has launched a campaign for homeowners to plant more of these plants in order to help reverse the decline of common garden species, such as starlings and bumblebees.
The organisation says that starling numbers have fallen by two thirds since the 1970s, while populations of half of bumblebee species falling.
The RSBP wants people to plant flowers that produce seeds/ nectar that are loved by birds and bumblebees alike. Their top five include:
Sunflowers
Cornfield annuals
Mini-meadow from not cutting the grass (I would argue this is not a species, but I understand the sentiment!)
Lavender
Foxgloves
As a designer, these are all brilliant flowers to grow around the garden – as is letting your lawn grow out in certain areas.
Even if you’re not a hands on gardener, just pop a few sunflower seeds in a small pot and let them grow on the kitchen window sill to give them a fighting chance against the slugs.
Read the full article:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/15/plant-sunflowers-and-lavender-to-save-garden-species-says-rspb
Easter weekend at RHS Bridgewater
Spring was certainly blooming at RHS Bridgewater this Easter. I have been quite a few times before but never in the spring – it wasn’t actually open last Easter – so it was lovely to see Tom Stuart-Smith’s vision for the different areas for spring time.
The walled garden is one of the gems of this beautiful site, with the rills and water features creating a soothing and calm area. I also admired this stunning Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa bignonioides), which has yet to come into leaf, and will flower in the late summer.
What have I been reading?
I’ve have talked before about taking inspiration from other mediums, such as sculpture, so this week I’ve been reading about an exhibition currently on at The Piece Hall in Halifax.
Sculptor Sophie Ryder is exhibiting her large scale bronze and wire hares at this stunning West Yorkshire location. It’s only on until May 23, so I’ve got a trip over the Pennines planned in already.
Read the full details: https://www.thepiecehall.co.uk/event/sophie-ryder/
