We all know how important bees and other insects are to pollinate our garden flowers, fruit trees and in fact all plants in the landscape. So we need to entice the bees by growing plants that they find attractive, but in a modern setting this can cause problems if you are wanting to stick to a minimalist theme. This article by Aislin Suparak Gibson which I found on the Houzz website has some great tips on how this can be achieved.
Planting a garden is one of the best ways you can support our crucial pollinators. However, if you prefer the clean lines of a modern landscape to an unruly array of wildflowers, how can you create a bee-friendly garden that fits your minimalist aesthetic? Here are tips for growing a modern pollinator garden that will turn your green space into a life-giving habitat, benefiting both you and our important pollinators.Plant large groupings. Masses of flowers help feed bees and create a calming space for people. Mass three to five species to optimize pollen stability. Bees and butterflies prefer plant groupings that are at least 3 feet by 3 feet. Larger flower groupings attract more bees.Large swaths of plants are also a key feature of modern garden design. In this contemporary garden in Vancouver, Canada, Botanica Design interspersed giant allium with lavender and rosemary to create a textured line of nectar-rich plants. The flowers also attract beneficial pollinators to boost summer crops.Here, a massing of red-hot poker (Kniphofia sp.) creates a meadow-like view from a minimalist patio.Plant flowers that benefit bees and people. Bees love nectar-producing flowers, such as scabiosa, lavender, echinacea, yarrow and jasmine. These flowers also have simple silhouettes that complement the clean lines of modern green spaces. In addition to providing nectar and pollen for pollinators, these particular flowers are a boon to people as well.
Scabiosa stellata seedpods, shown here, have a geometric shape popular in modern flower arrangements. Their compound flower shape means more flowers and nectar for visiting bees.
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Feature Photo: Eves & Lewis Landscape Design
