Nectar

[Tess]

Hi
I found on the haiths.com website a butterfly feeder - the site also lists nectar for use with the feeder.
Is this nectar likely to attract bees as well as butterflies, and if so is it likely to do them any harm? I have some winter-flowering honeysuckle which the bees love at this time of year, but now it's finishing and there doesn't seem to be anything else in flower to keep them going!
Hope someone can help.

[jadaro]

The butterfly nectar may be made from diluted imported honey, in which case if you have bees or are near someone who has bees, it may be a source of infection. If you wish to feed the butterflies perhaps it may be better to make your own by diluting some of your own or very local honey.

[Chris]

I think sugar water would be a simple feed to make up.

But surely all this is a failing? Isn't the idea one of planting flowering stuff which invertebrates would use? I would suggest that there are lots of things on the internet which would give you good ideas of what plants to grow throughout the season.

I think the BBKA produce leaflets on what things are best to plant. But if you have dug up your garden for off-road parking, I can understand the silliness of a butterfly feeder.

[Tess]

Thanks for these responses.
Actually it's the bees I was interested in helping not the butterflies.
Let me assure Jadaro above, that I shan't be trying the nectar idea in case of infection.
Let me assure Chris that I shall not trouble the forum again - haven't 'dug up my garden' and there will be no silliness with butterfly feeders. I don't have a garden as such, just about a hundred pots in a shared courtyard ( former farmyard). I have bee-friendly plants in many of the pots but as I observed above, nothing in flower for bees at present, apart from some rosemary.
Thanks for the note about plants the Association recommends.

[Tess]

Later ...
I just checked the leaflets the Association has online, but, unless I've missed one, they seem only to recommend trees and shrubs which might prove too large for my potted garden.
I'll have to look elsewhere for advice on smaller bee-friendly plants, I think.

[Norm]

Tess, most flowering herbs are attractive to bees. Good for them and good for your kitchen! Good luck, herbs do great in pots. :)

[SteveH]

I don't have a garden as such, just about a hundred pots in a shared courtyard.

Hi Tess,

You've already mentioned rosemary, which provides both nectar and pollen, but what about a few simple ones such as:

Spring bulbs such as crocus and snowdrops (maybe next year).
Lavender - of which there are quite a few different varieties.
Even the humble dandelion (just remove the heads before the seeds fly :rolleyes:).

There are lots more, however some of the modern hybrids that produce large colourful flowers don't necessarily produce nectar or pollen.

Steve

[jopearson]

Hi Tess,
I notice that you said bees, not specifically honey bees. If you find the bumbles as fascinating as I do, lavender is the way to go. I have spotted 7 (possibly 8) different species of bumble bees on one lavender bush, as well as the odd butterfly and my own honey bees all at the same time. Admittedly, this was a couple of years ago when the weather was just about perfect for them for a brief period!

The bumble bees seem to adore Pulmonaria (lungwort) as an early food source but I have to say, it's not really an attractive plant if you are looking at pots on your balcony. They all seem to like thyme, savory, rosemary, marjoram, etc., which are useful for the cook-pot as well.

regards
Jo

[Tess]

Many thanks, Jo, Steve and Norm, for good advice, kindly put!
I'll certainly get a load more herbs and lavenders in this year and your words re modern hybrid plants have shed light on the reason pelargoniums etc. don't seem to attract anything in summer. I had some luck last year with Vipers Bugloss - covered with both honey-bees ( I think) and bumble-bees. It self-seeds so I'm hoping for another show this year.
Thank you again for your kind replies.