Our little adventure into Permaculture and Organic Vegetable growing, starting with a small blank field that floods and making it into a Wildlife haven for birds, insects, amphibians and wild flowers, and at the same time providing our food. Learning as we go, leaning towards Permaculture methods, but not exclusively and adopting any ideas that seems helpful.
There are some dwarf varieties available now if you want thd butterflies but not a monster shrub. Speaking of butterflies, have you seen many? They've been pretty scarce this year, and I think there are fewer bees too.
Bee wise, millions and millions. I have 5 comfrey plants and there is a swarm on each, every day. This year there have been bees galore, bumble bees, my best year by far.
Butterflies so far are not bad, more brimstone and about the same tortoiseshell as normal. Skippers, many many more than I normally get. The others in my garden don't arrive until towards end of july.
The main thing about our garden was the lack of height, it was a field and can sometimes still feel like a field. I want big bushes to section off parts so there are many areas that feel secluded. Large butterfly bushes are fine with me. If anything gets too big I'm happy to chop it down. I've planted loads of willow, dog wood and anything else I can get my hands on. I have another 4 cultivated desert brambles (blackberry) to go in. A wild forest feel is more what I want :)
Bee wise, I was talking about the lack of honey bees in my garden with a friend who keeps bees just 2 miles away and he was saying that because we have rape and borage fields near us those bees simply won't go past those fields where as the bumble bees are living much closer to me and will go for the more traditional wild flowers that I have.
I have comfrey too, I just thought there'd been fewer bees. That could be though because the bumble bees that nested in our attic last year didn't return this year... they had to pass our garden on the way to almost anywhere.
Trees definitely make a garden feel more homey and relaxing. I guess history left its mark on us - we're creatures of the forest edge, or at least we were at the beginning.
It's odd how so many gardeners are obsessed with creating regimented, very unnatural gardens, with each plant in its own little slice of bare soil, or trees surrounded by neatly clipped grass. It's a lot of work and it doesn't even look that good.
It's impressive how much the field has changed! I have some pictures somewhere of my garden when we first moved in - I should find them and also draw a plan of how it's developed since.
It's looking great. I know what you mean about wanting a wild forest feel. If you've got space the more biomass the better, it's all locking up carbon and giving habitat and food to the insects and birds.
It's looking great and I see what you mean about having a wild forest feeling, it all contributes to locking up carbon and providing food and habitat for insects and birds etc.
It's looking great and I see what you mean about having a wild forest feeling, it all contributes to locking up carbon and providing food and habitat for insects and birds etc.
Cheers Matt. Sorry missed your reply. It's slowly evolving into what I want. Needs more height and more plants to be established, but slowly getting there.
The main problem is it's always the plants you least want to grow that shoot away most quickly!
ReplyDeleteThe tree/shrub at the front in the centre has gotten a lot bigger. Is it a buddleja?
Yes, Buddleja it is. One we inherited when we bought the house. It'll be going when we finally get around to building an extension there.
DeleteThere are some dwarf varieties available now if you want thd butterflies but not a monster shrub. Speaking of butterflies, have you seen many? They've been pretty scarce this year, and I think there are fewer bees too.
DeleteBee wise, millions and millions. I have 5 comfrey plants and there is a swarm on each, every day. This year there have been bees galore, bumble bees, my best year by far.
DeleteButterflies so far are not bad, more brimstone and about the same tortoiseshell as normal. Skippers, many many more than I normally get. The others in my garden don't arrive until towards end of july.
The main thing about our garden was the lack of height, it was a field and can sometimes still feel like a field. I want big bushes to section off parts so there are many areas that feel secluded. Large butterfly bushes are fine with me. If anything gets too big I'm happy to chop it down. I've planted loads of willow, dog wood and anything else I can get my hands on. I have another 4 cultivated desert brambles (blackberry) to go in. A wild forest feel is more what I want :)
Chris, thanks for your comments, and if you haven't seen what we started with https://ourlittlefield.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/first-year-review.html
DeleteThere is too much space to keep a tidy organised formal garden, wild is far more achievable and far better for the wildlife.
Bee wise, I was talking about the lack of honey bees in my garden with a friend who keeps bees just 2 miles away and he was saying that because we have rape and borage fields near us those bees simply won't go past those fields where as the bumble bees are living much closer to me and will go for the more traditional wild flowers that I have.
DeleteI have comfrey too, I just thought there'd been fewer bees. That could be though because the bumble bees that nested in our attic last year didn't return this year... they had to pass our garden on the way to almost anywhere.
DeleteTrees definitely make a garden feel more homey and relaxing. I guess history left its mark on us - we're creatures of the forest edge, or at least we were at the beginning.
It's odd how so many gardeners are obsessed with creating regimented, very unnatural gardens, with each plant in its own little slice of bare soil, or trees surrounded by neatly clipped grass. It's a lot of work and it doesn't even look that good.
It's impressive how much the field has changed! I have some pictures somewhere of my garden when we first moved in - I should find them and also draw a plan of how it's developed since.
It's looking great. I know what you mean about wanting a wild forest feel. If you've got space the more biomass the better, it's all locking up carbon and giving habitat and food to the insects and birds.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking great and I see what you mean about having a wild forest feeling, it all contributes to locking up carbon and providing food and habitat for insects and birds etc.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking great and I see what you mean about having a wild forest feeling, it all contributes to locking up carbon and providing food and habitat for insects and birds etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anni, it becomes more interesting year by year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a transformation – it's looking lovely.
ReplyDeleteCheers Matt. Sorry missed your reply. It's slowly evolving into what I want. Needs more height and more plants to be established, but slowly getting there.
Delete