A must have for bee lovers - Calendula: A Bee’s Favourite and home cooks

 

Calendula: A Bee’s Favorite

1. Attracting Bees:

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is a common garden flower that bees love to visit. When grown properly, it provides masses of bright orange or yellow blooms, making it an excellent nectar source for our buzzing friends.
• Not only over-wintered calendula but also the regular summer-flowering variety attracts bees. You’ll spot them happily buzzing around the orange or yellow petals! 🌼
• This makes a great companion plant for plants like tomatoes!

2. Easy to Grow:

• Calendula is an annual herb with a strong self-seeding habit. Plant it in a sunny spot with well-draining soil, and it will reward you with abundant blooms.
• Expect calendula to readily self-seed and come back year after year, almost like a perennial.
• They take so well from seed you will be able to harvest man plants from one little seed pod r

3. Benefits Beyond Beauty and Bees:

• Edible and often called “poor man’s saffron,” calendula petals can add a splash of colour to salads.
• For centuries, calendula has been used in herbal remedies due to its antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties. It appears in topical creams, lip balms, and more.

4. Not Your Typical Marigold:

• Despite being commonly known as “pot marigold,” calendula is distinct from the more common marigolds (Tagetes genus).
• French marigolds are grown primarily for their attractive flowers and are not usually considered edible. Calendula, on the other hand, is both beautiful and beneficial for bees.

So, next time you’re planning your garden, consider adding calendula. It’s a win-win for you and the bees!

There are so many benefits to growing and using Calendular check out this great blog post i found online from VerywellHealth.com - https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-benefits-of-calendula-4582641#:~:text=Possible%20Side%20Effects%20of%20Calendula,to%20have%20an%20allergic%20reaction 

I hope you will consider growing this beautiful plant in your garden

If you don't have access to Calendular seeds to harvest check out my favourite seeds from Mr Fothergills and Johnsons on amazon here: https://amzn.to/3W6ulQY

** As an Amazon Associate i may receive a small referral commission should you buy something through my UK Amazon Store front. (if you would like to see what i have used and where to get it you can find the links where there is blue on the page) ** Please note that there is no charge to the customer for this.

Here are some more pictures from my little garden..