The garden bait.

In an effort to inject some much needed colour into the garden, and in the process try to attract more bees and butterflies, other than the ones that skipped over the fence in passing, I spent a fair bit of money over the last few weeks, at one of the local Garden Centres.

What an array of plants. Thankfully at times like that, I’m glad in a way that I’ve only got a small garden.

A few single plants, and a few ready-planted pots and tubs later; and a much lighter bank balance, I sighted them in the garden, and patiently waited.



A few Fuchsia plants never go amiss around a garden, for structure and colour.

A couple of ready potted Dianthus and Osteospermum. That oughta do the trick.

A small pot of Nemesia; beautiful scent.

A big pot of Lavender. Who could resist that?

A Dahlia, because I liked the colour,

and a small, cheery, yellow Chrysanthemum.

I already had a large Hebe growing at the bottom of the garden, always a good attraction,

and it was producing some lovely flower spikes already.

With the Candytuft I’d sown earlier, forming masses of flat heads of flowers,

and the Buddleia I got a couple of years ago, starting to flower,

I was ready to rock n roll!

The usual birds were still coming, and the young Starlings seemed thankful for Jims old water dish, for a drink, and a bath.

and even as a convenient place to have arguments, and stand offs.

But what of the other flying visitors? The bees and butterflies?


Early days yet, I keep telling myself, but one or two have stopped for a look round. Some even settled on flowers for a closer inspection. Not the ones I carefully sighted, and lived on toast for a couple of weeks to get though. Oh no. They much preferred these,

the ‘I’ll grow where I want’ plants, from the scattered seed, as the avian visitors raid the feeders and trays.


I think next year I’ll just chuck handfuls of bird seed round the garden instead, and have baked beans with my toast.