Flowers for Bees and Winter Cheer

​If you are struggling with the long grey winter days, then now is the perfect time to order some bulbs and tubers guaranteed to brighten your winter garden next year. An added bonus is that they will also provide nectar for winter foraging insects and bees emerging early from hibernation.

Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) can be bought as dry bulbs but establish much more effectively if bought "in the green". This simply means that they are actively growing and you will get clumps of bulbs in leaf. Now is the perfect time to order them and although you wont get any flowers this year they should quickly establish and reward you with flowers next January and February. 

Galanthus nivalis is the common snowdrop and the one you are most likely to see in the wild. It likes partial shade and will tolerate most soils, if happy gradually spreading to form large clumps. They will naturalise in grass and are ideal for adding winter colour under trees and deciduous shrubs. Make sure to plant some where you can see them from your windows or front door, then you can enjoy then whatever the weather.

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​A tuber which is best bought in  'in the green'  and can be ordered now, is the Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis). A member of the buttercup family they have rich yellow cup shaped flowers each sporting a ruff of bright green leaves. Flowering from February into March, they will carry on providing nectar for your winter insects as the Snowdrop flowers fade.

Although each individual has a spread of only 10cm, they will quickly produce new bulbs creating a golden carpet.  After flowering, they disappear completely back under ground as if they were never there. They will happily naturalise in grass and look perfect under trees and shrubs tolerating most soils and sun to partial shade.

Both should be planted as soon as they arrive to the same depth as at the nursery (where the leaves turn from white to green) and about 5-10cm apart. Scattering them and then planting where they land will give you a natural effect. Like all bulbs and tubers do remember to let the leaves die down naturally so that the bulbs can replenish their food stores ensuring flowers the following year. If when you receive them the ground is frozen then temporarily pot them up in some compost until you can plant them in the garden.

Snowdrops and Aconites need little attention once planted and will give years of pleasure for the minimum of effort. Knowing they are rich in nectar and helping to support our wildlife through the winter is the icing on the cake.

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