Thoughts for starting a garden at this time of year, please

And there we have the kind of jungle look I was thinking about, courtesy of Shinamae!

I thought Shinamae's garden looked very neat and tidy SueDonim ?

Well, it is compared to ours!
We do have two of those red cordylines, they are the babies of a large one which DH planted in the ground. It grew into a small tree but we lost it one cold snowy winter; we should have tied it up and put sacking over it.

SueDonim

And there we have the kind of jungle look I was thinking about, courtesy of Shinamae!

Well I must admit that the garden is a bit wild over that little trellis fence there’s quite a big ornamental cherry tree that’s gonna have to be knocked down to size shall we say! I am trying to keep the bit over the fence as wild life I’ve got my hedgehog house down there,I just need to get into it with the rake. I need some advice on what to put on my trellis as I have a quite a bit of it with nothing on it?… any tips gratefully received..

I saw your thread the other day Douglas2b and thought of my DD who wanting to revamp her small garden at the moment and is picking my brains for ideas. She lives in the NW and moved to her new place 18 months ago. She is passionate to attract the bees too.

I can recommend Verbena bonariensis and have grown it from seed. It likes any soil condition. nearly any position and has survived the drought this year. I've got it in the ground and also in pots. It dies back every year but pops up again. The bees are still buzzing around it. You will get flowers from early summer right through into the autumn.

It's great to read all the excellent advice on your thread as to where and how to start. Well done you for ignoring the very few discourteous, opinionated posters we have. Thankful there are far more supportive and friendly ones.

Oh, I’m not meaning jungly in a bad way! I hope I haven’t upset you, Shinamae? I was literally meaning jungle as to the type of plant, close planting, interesting nooks and crannies, all verdant and green. It looks a lovely place in which to spend time and it’s the sort of thing I want.

Plus that pond. ? ? ❤️ I can’t have a pond due to GC but I’ve read that even a damp area is useful for attracting wildlife.

I don't think you have to worry too much about plants for bees in the winter, they hibernate. I find they reappear about late Feb/ March when the pulmonaria start flowering. Thats a good early plant but it needs a firm hand... Lenten roses, i.e. hellebores, start flowering very early and are virtually evergreen, just cut off the old leaves and flowers when the new foliage starts coming through. They're very hardy.
For winter scent I'd also suggest Chinese or Japanese witch hazel. they make a quite 'airy', slow growing shrub.

The NE isn't that cold, you know, folks, we just get going a bit later in the spring

SueDonim

Oh, I’m not meaning jungly in a bad way! I hope I haven’t upset you, Shinamae? I was literally meaning jungle as to the type of plant, close planting, interesting nooks and crannies, all verdant and green. It looks a lovely place in which to spend time and it’s the sort of thing I want.

Plus that pond. ? ? ❤️ I can’t have a pond due to GC but I’ve read that even a damp area is useful for attracting wildlife.

Of course you haven’t upset me, I took it as a compliment ?

SueDonim

Oh, I’m not meaning jungly in a bad way! I hope I haven’t upset you, Shinamae? I was literally meaning jungle as to the type of plant, close planting, interesting nooks and crannies, all verdant and green. It looks a lovely place in which to spend time and it’s the sort of thing I want.

Plus that pond. ? ? ❤️ I can’t have a pond due to GC but I’ve read that even a damp area is useful for attracting wildlife.

Sorry, that was me!

I meant Shinamae's garden looked tidy compared to ours.

Callistemon21

SueDonim

Oh, I’m not meaning jungly in a bad way! I hope I haven’t upset you, Shinamae? I was literally meaning jungle as to the type of plant, close planting, interesting nooks and crannies, all verdant and green. It looks a lovely place in which to spend time and it’s the sort of thing I want.

Plus that pond. ? ? ❤️ I can’t have a pond due to GC but I’ve read that even a damp area is useful for attracting wildlife.

Sorry, that was me!

I meant Shinamae's garden looked tidy compared to ours.

Really not a problem ??

Oh good, Shinamae! . I am now at the confusion ‘sown’ on this thread.

?

?

It’s quite a small area are wild flowers really a good idea?
There are plenty of garden plants that attract insects and bees, for birds you need seed producing plants like sunflowers.
Be careful of introducing weeds that produce lots of seeds like thistles, they will spread to the whole garden