On this page I share horticultural matters of interest, whereby I hope to inform and educate people about our native plants, and encourage people to get involved to help save these species before its too late. Many species are currently heavily threatened.
There are so many ways to adopt a more "Green" approach to gardening and living - if every home across the UK could just do one small thing to help, it could really make a difference.
Let's not sit on the side lines...
British Heathland
Heathlands are wide open spaces of country side dominated by plants such as Heathers, Gorse and heathland grasses. Heathlands will often have scattered trees such as Silver Birch and certain conifers growing on the poor sandy soils.
These photos were taken by me, on the jubilee walk in Chobham heathland.
Winter
Spring
Summer
PHEASANTS-EYE ( Adonis annua )
This absolutely beautiful annual is disappearing from our country!
You can help by growing it in your garden, window box or hanging basket today.
Grows 50cm high with a 50cm spread.Spice up your garden with this endangered beauty. This hardy plant enjoys full sun and thrives in alkaline (chalky or limestone ) soils and sandy to clay soil which is well drained. Generally disease free, it will make a great addition to a mixed border, meadow or wildflower garden whilst also working well in a rockery.
Flowers from June to end July and best sown from August to April.
Why is this species in decline?
- Agricultural herbicides.
- Loss of habitat.
- Poor competitiveness on soils artificially enriched with nitrogen fertilizers.
If you like the sound of this beautiful plant contact me.
The Common Nettle ( Urtica dioica )
Please think before you get rid of your nettles!
I can imagine there are some of you with a number of nettle spots in your garden. Indeed this is the plant we love to hate and for good reason (despite its medicinal properties).
Did you know that without this plant many of our beautiful butterflies would never survive?
We all love butterflies, but many gardeners hate caterpillars - let's face it they munch on our beautiful plants until they perish.
The common nettle is a very important host plant for many caterpillars, in fact some species completely rely on this plant as its food source.
Its not realistic to ask you all to allow nettles to take over your entire garden, but I would like to suggest that you leave a small patch for the butterflies.
Growing nettles will help support these butterflies:
Comma
Painted Lady
Peacock
Red Admiral
Small Tortoiseshell
Think Nettles, think Butterfly...
WHY BEES?
Why are bees so important to Britain?
The facts:
- Our British native bees are dying out and with them our Flora & Fauna - 1 third of our food source.
- Plants rely on bees for pollination, without pollination plants will not seed or fruit.
- Just by generating awareness we can save an important piece of our Britain.
- If every house and home did just one little thing to save a bee it would make a huge difference.
What you can do to save bees!
1. Plant bee friendly plants.
2. Stop using garden insecticides.
3. Make a bee home.
4. Educate someone else and lets save some bees.
Sites to visit
WHY BUTTERFLIES?
Why are butterflies so important to Britain?
The Wall Brown Butterfly
I may not be the most spectacular butterfly you have ever seen but soon you will not be able to see me at all!
My numbers are down 38% this year and dropping.
What can you do ?
Grow plants for Wall caterpillars to eat.
Plant list:
False brome ( Brachypodium sylvaticum ), cock’s foot ( Dactylis ), Yorkshire fog ( Holcus lanatus ), wavy hair grass( Deschampsia flexuosa )
These native grass's will bring texture and structure to meadows and wild flower boarders.
Wall caterpillar
Let me know if you have seen this Butterfly or caterpillar - drop me a line amandaracemiller@gmail.com
