HANNA'S BEES Bee And BUTTERFLY SEED MIX
Attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators to your garden with this mix of traditional cottage flowers. Contains annual varieties especially selected for bees and butterflies and to support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. They are also recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as good plants for pollinators.
Our bee and butterfly flower seeds are suitable for beds, borders and meadows. This annual mixture is an easy to grow alternative to summer bedding plants producing a riot of colour ranging from shades of blue and purple to pink, yellow and bright red.
Irish grown seed. Contains: 6 grams to cover 2-4 m2
Mix includes: Baby’s Breath, Borage, California Poppy, Candytuft, Corn Flower, Dwarf Morning Glory, Elegant Clarkia, Farewell to Spring, Forget me not, Love in a mist (Nigella), Painted Daisy, Paper daisy, Phacelia, Pheasant’s Eye, Poppy and Pot Marigold.
To prepare your soil for planting:
First clear the site of weeds, stones and sticks. Turn the soil and break up any clods, then rake so that you have a fine crumbly surface. If your ground is heavy, or you do not want to or can’t turn the soil, then clear weeds and add a layer of sand, soil or compost, or a mix of these, to the surface. Rake over. Do not add fertilizer to meadows or flowerbeds.
Sowing instructions:
Sow directly into prepared soil in March – June or August – October.
Grows best in full sun.
Flowers May-September/October.
Coverage is 1.5-3 grams/square meter.
Seeds sown in spring will flower the same year, and seed sown in autumn will flower the next year. Because the seed mix contains seeds of different weight and size, gently shake the seed packet before sowing to mix the seed. You can also add a bit of sand or compost to the seed before sowing to make sure the seeds are evenly distributed when sowing. Spread the seed thinly, 1.5 – 3 g/square meter.
Germination: Wildflower seeds need light to germinate, so there is no need to rake in the seeds after sowing. Roll or firm the soil by tapping the back of the rake on the ground. This makes sure the seed is in contact with the soil. Make sure the soil is moist to speed up germination.
The seeds may take a few weeks to germinate so make sure the soil does not dry out. Germination will be slower if the conditions are dry or cold. Seeds sown in autumn may therefore not germinate until the following spring. Some seeds also need a cold spell to germinate, which is why some annual flowers sown late in spring may not germinate and flower until the following summer.
If birds are digging up and eating the seed after sowing, you can rake in the seed slightly or cover them with a thin layer of sand or compost. Alternatively, cover with a garden net or horticultural fleece until they have germinated or use a scarecrow.
After flowering: This flower mix contains seeds of perennial plants, which will flower year after year, and annual plants, which will self-seed in the autumn if the seed heads are not removed after flowering. To ensure that the annual plants self seed you can either leave the seedheads on the plants after flowering, or you can cut them down. Once cut down, leave the plant parts including the seed heads on the ground. The stalks and leaves will decompose and enrich the soil and the seeds will overwinter and germinate the following spring. Make sure to dig up any unwelcome weeds so that they do not take over your wildflower patch.
A little bit about Hanna's Wraps:
All products are carefully handmade in Cork by Hanna using only natural, eco-friendly ingredients. She keeps Native Irish honeybees in her apiaries and from the hives they get the most exquisite raw honey, as well as beeswax and propolis for her range of honeybee products. All products are free from toxins, additives, and artificial scents. They are especially designed for use in homes where there are children and pets, and for people sensitive to allergens.
Contains: 6 grams to cover 2-4 m2
