Monday, November 03, 2014

MACRO MONDAY - foxglove and bee

I have tried for years to grow Foxglove.
First at the Ontario cottage in a wooded area beside our path I learned the hard way they were not getting enough sun, so then I tried to naturalize them along the side of the road where would receive more sun but where they quickly became choked out by native Bracken without me there to help keep the ferns at bay. 

Last year in Winnipeg I added them in two locations but "the coldest winter in living memory" turned them to mush. 


Still I persist, inspired by the Assiniboine Park gardens where they bloom en-masse only a a five minute bike ride from my home.

This year in the Monet Garden I believe I have found the right combination of rich organic soil and enough sunlight.  Let us hope that with some mulching they make it through our cold winters and their gorgeous spires return again next ear to provide much needed habitat for our bees.


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22 comments:

  1. sooo wundervolle bilder und inspirationen, danke!!! einen schönen montag wünscht angie aus deutschland

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Angie, happy Monday to you too!

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  2. The second photo is particularly great .... super photographed.
    Best regards, Karin

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    1. Thanks for your kind words Karin, the bee deserves all the credit for being so darn cute.

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  3. A wonderful result of never giving up! I also love these flowers, and grow them from seed (takes two years). Will never be without Foxgloves. They (mostly) survive in our cold climate.

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    1. Glad to hear they mostly survive your climate, I have my fingers crossed again this year. Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. I love foxgloves. My granny had them and they grew where they wanted, not necessarily where she wanted them to grow. :-)

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    1. I love them so much that I won't mind if they take over my whole front garden. At least I say that now, LOL.

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  5. I love foxgloves, but I can't seem to grow them here!

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    1. I'll let you know if I get mine back again next year...if so, then my advice is keep on trying - 4th may be your lucky time as well!

      By the way, will oyu keep hosting garden Tuesday over the winter? I hope so!

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  6. Pretty flower and great macro of the bee!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, come back any time!!

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  7. love foxgloves...glad I found your blog( I am a Winnipegger too!)

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    1. Well hello there Winnipeg, nice to make your acquaintance and very glad you found my blog too! I'll be sure to check yours out as well!

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  8. Great photos!! I wish you well in your endeavour to get them to grow. Fingers crossed for next year!!

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    1. Thanks for the well wishes Mitchy we can use all the luck we can get!

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  9. Hello Derek.... I am always happy to see bee photos and now of a bee friendly garden. Great macro of the bee and I also love the idea of a Monet garden.. Michelle from Nature Notes..

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    1. Thanks Michelle, I definitely try and keep habitat in mind as I choose plants and was quite pleaed to see hiw much the bees enjoyed the Foxglove as well.

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  10. I hope your flower will thrive. :) I like the soft image of the bee.

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    1. Thanks very much for stopping in and taking the time to comment. Much appreciated.

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  11. Wow that fuzzy bee is amazing! Thanks for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)

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    1. Thanks Laura, he looks quite cute and given it was cold and he was rather sleepy I have to admit (much to me nervous husband's horror) I did actually reach out and give the fuzzy bee a gentle pet with one of my fingers. I'm not sure he understood it was affectionate but her certainly did not seem to mind.

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