For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Wednesday 17 June 2015

Improving a wildflower garden with Horseshoe vetch and Yellow rattle; a great habitat for insects

 To encourage a Horseshoe vetch to spread seed, it has been kept in a pot with some lumps of chalk for alkaline conditions and placed in a wildflower area.  That way it has put on some vigorous growth and produced lots of flowers.  A Meadow brown butterfly flew past it this day.
Yellow rattle is firmly established from seed that was spread last Autumn.  It will reduce the vigour of the grass and hopefully allow the vetch to grow.

The Oxeye daisies and Cat's-ears have thrived nearby where they have been allowed to run riot for many years, providing food for many different insects including bumblebees, solitary bees, flies and beetles.
 Above looks like an Early bumblebee, Bombus pratorum.


 On the same daisies were tiny Varied Carpet beetles, Anthrenus verbasci.
 I've no idea what this is above.  Can anyone help?

 A solitary bee.

On my blackcurrants was a Hover-fly, Eupeodes nitens, which is characteristic of ancient woodland.  There are mature oak trees nearby and one in my garden.
 And a Green shieldbug.

A Hairy shieldbug was in the formal garden on an Agapanthus leaf.

My thanks to this Tree bumblebee pollinating my blackberry flowers. 
Many plants like this Cornflower are covered with Aphids... and so what!  They are still alive and the aphids will be predated by Ladybirds, Lacewings etc.. An organic wildflower garden gives an endless source of interest for nature lovers.

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