The June Gap Dearth

The‘June-Gap’ is a time of dearth of flowering plants between spring and summer, yet the colony is almost at a peak in numbers so need even more pollen and nectar. There are some excellent bee plants for this time:

• Geranium pratense (a native UK wildflower producing excellent pollen and nectar throughout June onwards)
• Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary, also for bumble-bees, flowering May-September),
• Sambucus nigra (Elderberry, bees love this pollen),
• Borago officinalis (Borage, an annual, abundant in nectar),
• Raspberry (June flowering several cultivars, abundant in nectar).
• Leptospermum scoparium (Wild Alpine Manuka, when mature can make quite an impact covered in blossom in June).
• Melittis melissophyllum (Honey-scented Balm, a beautiful shade-loving native wildflower flowers throughout June).
• Phacelia tanacetifolia (an excellent green manure annual)
• Papaver rhoes (native wildflower annual)
• Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose, biennial)
• Valeriana officinalis (Valerian, medicinal perennial)