Flowers for the Honeybees and Other Beneficials

When we first started gardening, the focus was strictly on growing food.  At the time, I wanted to minimize the weeding and thought flowers took up too much of our time.  After having honeybees for 5 years and gardening organically, I have learned that flowers in the garden play a larger role than just beauty.  Flowers attract the beneficial insects to our garden that keep the harmful pests to a minimal level.  Each year we plant more flowers in the garden and around the property.  In the garden between the asparagus and strawberries, we have a herb and flower section.  Listed below are some of the flowering plants we grow on the property:

Basil flowering in the fall.

• Chamomile
• Pincushion
• Marigolds
• Amaranth
• Borage
• Nasturtium
• Bee's Friend
• Cupplant
• Wildflower Mix
• Thyme
• Lavender
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Purple Coneflower
• Foxglove
• Leeks
• Firesticks
• Sorghum

Firesticks

To remember where the seeds are planted, we use small sections of PVC pipe that we found under the porch left behind from the previous homeowners.

Leeks produce beautiful globes that attract a lot of beneficial insects!

Attracting parasitic wasps in the garden is really important when fighting the tomato hornworm.