British gardening expert Elspeth Thompson has a good idea for attracting insects to your garden.
When you are clearing hollow-stemmed plants from your garden beds this spring, save the stems to make insect homes. Cut the stems into 4 inch lengths and use string to tie about 20 of them into bundles. Place the bundles in out of the way, unseen places in shrubs or between rocks with the openings parallel to the ground.
I saved Filipendula rubra 'Queen of the Prairie', Asclepias incarnata 'Swamp Milkweed', and sedum stems.
Why do you want insects in your garden? Some of them are "beneficial" because they eat other insects that damage your plants. Insects are also a food source for many birds.
Thompson says solitary bees are also attracted to these "houses." Solitary bees are pollinators and do not sting.
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Comments
It's a cute idea, whether it works or not. I'll keep it in mind when I'm cutting down the old growth.
It never would have dawned on me.
That is gorgeous sedum! I plant for my bees and have added lots of lavender for them. Thanks for the reminder to take care of the winged population.
I watched a bird eat a moth once. Kind of cool.
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