Flowers

dufflight · **Posted:** Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:10 pm

I've always had the rule. If I can't eat it then I don't grow it. And if you can't eat it then its got thorns.

But I'm having to add flowering plant to this list and I hate to waste the space but the bees do like a garden full of flowers. Increasing the amount of bees that visit has a big effect on the yield of the vegie garden and the fruit trees. But you do feel dirty as you look at the different plants at the nursary. And having to wait for others to leave to counter area before you bring over a few plants. Even the lady behind the counter looks at you strangely. Then when you think you've gotten out of there you see a mate comming in with his girlfriend. :run:

At least once I have enough growing in the backyard I will never need to buy anymore. I was going to post this under plants but couldn't find a catagory. Good to know I'm not the only one that doesn't like flowers. :lol:

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:47 pm

I'm growing Seaside Daisys (Erigeron karvinskianus), Gerberas (Asteraceae ????) and Cut-leaf Daisys (Brachycome multifida) for my stingless bees to feast on.

Granny Smith · **Posted:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:43 am

Bees are especially attracted to blue flowers, I've heard, so you could plant borage. It has very blue flowers which you can add to salads or drinks. The leaves are a refrigerant (make drinks cooler) like cucumbers.

earthbound · **Posted:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:36 pm

Flowers?

The way I figure it you keep a few of your veggies and let them go to flower, then collect the seed from them. I've nearly always got old veggies that are flowering in the garden. Some of the bright yellow flowers draw lots of bees in.

Tristrin · **Posted:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:43 pm

dufflight wrote:

Good to know I'm not the only one that doesn't like flowers.

I'm not keen on roses or interested in planting annuals like petunias or pansies, but i love the flowers on many of our native plants & many exotics. Some grasses have very interesting flowers and plants like iris's have been specially bred to improve the shape & colour of the flowers.
Your garden should be a place for you to relax, so planting plants that you like is important. I consider growing plants for food to be an essential part of my garden, but other plants are essential too. No-one should feel guilty or embarrassed for planting plants that you don't eat!
Sorry for the rant, but I had to say that!

chillidude · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:10 pm

Yeah, I'm with you Tristrin - lotsa natives around where there's not edible stuff. Brings in the birds and other bugs (generally good) as well as the bees.

Dunno if I relax in it as it has to compete with the pool, reading in bed, the beer fridge :cheers:

, and occasionally the TV. However, I do find it quite therapeutic working in it and get a sense of achievement no matter how small the job I did.

Of course, if any significant effort went into the job (usually anything more than 10 minutes) I drag the rest of the family out to have a look at what I've done and bask in the glow of their feigned interest and support :whip:

Tristrin · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:57 pm

chillidude wrote:

Yeah, I'm with you Tristrin - lotsa natives around where there's not edible stuff. Brings in the birds and other bugs (generally good) as well as the bees.

Dunno if I relax in it as it has to compete with the pool,

Relaxing in the pool is relaxing in the backyard. My statement

Tristrin wrote:

Your garden should be a place for you to relax,

would have sounded better if I'd said "Your backyard should be a place for you to relax" as that is what I meant.

chillidude · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:02 am

No sweat Tristrin - I reckon we're in pretty close agreement, regardless of which words we use :thumb:

earthbound · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:56 pm

I think if you people are getting time to relax in the backyard there's something wrong. :wink:

Tristrin · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:40 am

Well EB, I can dream about relaxing at the beach on some exotic island with a gorgeous young man giving me a massage :angel:

.......but for now relaxing in my backyard will have to do :wink:

chillidude · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:18 am

earthbound wrote:

I think if you people are getting time to relax in the backyard there's something wrong. :wink:

Could be - but with us, or you ?

earthbound · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 12:18 pm

Probably me......

Lord Viykor · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:36 pm

I went and got some more Gazanias on the weekend. They fill the spot between my lemon and oranges trees, and hopefully give the native bees another food source.

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Bringing food production home

Flowers

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Flowers

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Backyard Farming Forum
Bringing food production home