It was the beginning of spring of this past year that I decided to let our garden become an Ark, and to let everything that wanted to grow be there without interference from me. And it worked, the garden became one large ecological wonder, Thistles, Foxgloves, Nettles, Comfrey, Dandelions, and so many more wild plants seemed to be in competition with each other to produce the most foliage and flowers. Needless to say the garden became a haven for insects and the butterflies were found in abundance too. Everyday I was out there filming and taking photos of all these delightful creatures, too many of which I don’t quite know the proper name of. First time seeing the Orange tip butterfly and also the Meadow Brown. At some point the Leek flowers were visited by several Peacocks, Red Admirals, and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Besides the ordinary Whites I also had a visit of a Green Veined White, and of course not to forget the Painted Ladies of which there were several this past summer. I had a Meadow Brown which was also a first here in the garden, and of course the yearly Speckled Wood. Such a delight!
Red Admiral 
Speckled Wood 
Small Tortoiseshell
Green veined White 
White butterfly 
Orange Tipped butterfly
Cinnabar moth 
Hoverfly 
Hoverfly
Wasp 
And even though we had such an abundance of creatures in the garden in this past year, I am having to re-think my gardening plan for this coming season 2020, the reason for this is that by now the garden is totally overgrown. I have let it get out of hand and now will find it hard to find space for vegetables, the growth has been so enormous and so I will be planning differently but still with insect life in mind.
Let me know please what you do in this regard, do you just let every wild plant grow where it wants, or do you keep some order in your garden or plot. I would be very interested in learning from your experience my friends. Thank you.
I have a fair amount of wild land on my property, where critters can live without my interference other than an annual mowing in spring. For the gardens near the house, I do weed to maintain the plants I want to flourish. I never use chemicals, of course, but will hand pick beetles and slugs off plants like potatoes and dahlias. I let violets grow in the lawn, but not my gardens. I am selective!
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Thank you for your feedback Eliza, yes like you I don’t use chemical either. It sounds lovely that you have violets growing in your lawn. It is good to be selective, something I will have to apply next season.
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We add some specific plants like viper’s bugloss for bees; a stumpery for insects. A fine entomological collection. But you must get rid of that destructive vine weevil next to the shield bug.
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Thank you Derrick, much appreciated and taken note of. Yes I had my doubts about the weevil.
I think you are right, that it is a good idea to grow particular plants specifically for the bees, or for the butterflies, and in this way helping the dwindling wildlife. I will look for viper’s bugloss, great tip.
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We have loads of the weevils – possibly because we live close to Southampton where they arrived in the ’80s. If you now have them and find plants in pots dying you might find this post, and the one it links to, useful: https://derrickjknight.com/2017/04/06/evil-little-weevils/
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Thank you Derrick that is very helpful and kind of you.
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Were there no weevils in Britain before their arrival in Southampton in the 1980s?
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Not vine weevils, apparently. Although we haven’t managed to justify it on Google, Jackie remembers seeing this on a gardening programme some years ago.
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Okay, thank you!
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Interesting Derrick, not sure what the story is with Ireland.
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Those are some wonderful insect photos. Some of the bugs look some what familiar and others are very different. I live in a semi tropical climate and have no problems attracting insects and pollinators. I plant for the birds and the bees and the other insects arrive along with the pollinators.
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The plan is to become more and more adept and knowledgeable in planting what the native insects like best, that is what I want of my garden – apart from growing vegetables for ourselves.
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The multiple reddish bees are male lasioglossum (albipes or calceatum), they like to roost in groups.
It might be better to use sugar water to feed tired bumblebees as honey can contain parasites.
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Ok and thank you Philip, that is a useful tip and easily put in practice. Thanks for the id of the reddish bees, something for me to look up further.
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I grow vegetables in raised beds but let other parts of the garden do more or less what they want. So I get lots of weeds and wildlife, and vegetables. I cut things back when they get so overgrown that you can’t see what was there
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Thanking you. It’s a learning curve isn’t it, I will be prepared when spring comes along, already looking forward to that time 🙂
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What a wonderful array of inspect life!
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It is lovely to see them in the garden Emma.
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My garden
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is still evolving. I hadn’t considered wild plants particularly until recently, although they have been slow to come in, anyway. In other words, I haven’t had massive amounts to deal with – and have therefore also possibly missed out on insects as well.
Most of the plants which seem to attract insects are currently the ones I planted, such as apple, strawberry and phacelia. However, the latter two are now left to their own devices, so in a manner of speaking they have become wild.
Anyway, I don’t know if what I have said is of any help to you, Agnes. From what I remember of your garden from previous photos, you do have enough space to blend vegetable plots with wilder areas. Maybe take the sunniest areas for the controlled, vegetable areas, as the wild flowers will look after themselves.
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Thank you Helen, it is an art isn’t it, and a learning curve, your idea is good, taking the sunniest spot for the vegetables. I planted out some kale today and also a camelia bush, can’t wait to get starting again properly, but planning first – very important and fun!
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Unless you are making a permanent structure, I don’t think planning is hugely important, as it’s not possible to be completely in control where the garden is concerned. That said, vegetables need more care than wild plants, don’t they, and have a harder time in shade, on the whole.
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Agreed Helen , it’s probably our wish to have control over nature that get us humans into trouble with our environment. 🙂
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Indeed 🎄
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🙂
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Zo MOOI !!!
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Dank u David 🙂
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