The English Garden – September 2019

14 THE ENGLISH GARDEN SEPTEMBER 2019

OBirdswillbebusydevelopingtheir

winterplumage,thickeningthemwith

upto70%morefeathersforthecolder

months.Keepthemwellnourishedby

leavingoutproteinandfat-richfoods.

OLeaveseedheadsonplantsand

allowvegetationtodiebacknaturally

• thiswillprovidefoodandshelter
  forgardenwildlifeinautumnand
  winter.Chooseplantswithattractive
  seedheads–echinaceaorphlomis,
  say–tokeepborderslookinggood.
  OPlantherbaceousperennialsatthe
  endofthemonth,whilethesoilis
  warmfromlate-summersun,butstill
  moist.Choosenectar-richperennials
  suchasVerbenabonariensis,phlox,
  agastache,scabiousandsedumto
  attractpollinators.

OSpreadfallenleavesoveryour

flowerbedstoprovidearichmulchas

wellasagoodhabitatforbirds,frogs

andinvertebrates

WORDS

PHOEBE JAYES

IMAGES

SHUTTERSTOCK

Help wildlife this SEPTEMBER

Fattenupbirdsforwinter;leaveseedheadsonplants; plant

pollinator-friendlyflowers;applyamulchof fallenleaves

Commonly SPOTTED

Howtohelpournativeladybird populations

Appearance:TheUK’smostcommonladybird species

aretheseven-spotladybird(pictured)and the two-spot

ladybird.Theyhaveredwingcasesandblack spots, with

theseven-spotladybirdbeingabout2–3mm larger.

Habitat:Ladybirdshibernateincracks,crevices and leaf

litteroverwinter,butfromApriltoOctober they can be

foundingardens,parks,meadowsandwoods.

Whatyoucando:InAprilthisyear,ashocking report in

BiologicalConservationrevealedthattheworld’s insects

areheadedtowardsextinction,largelydue to overuse of

pesticides.It’smoreimportantthaneverto encourage

gardenbugs,andladybirdsgivebackbyeliminating pests.

Theyeatpollenaswellasaphidssoplantpollen-rich plants

andmakeabughotelwithdrysticksforwinter shelter.

WILDFLOWERFOLKLORE

Queen Anne’s Lace

Anthriscus sylvestris, also known as
Queen Anne’s Lace, cow parsley
and mother die, is rich in folklore.
The name ‘mother die’, was thought
to stem from the fear that bringing
the plant indoors could quite literally
bring about the death of one’s
mother. One explanation for the title
‘Queen Anne’s Lace’ was that Queen
Anne would traditionally
travel in the month
of May, which
is when
the plant
appears,
leading
people to
believe the
roadsides had
been decorated
in her honour.

Nature to Note

Your monthly guide to encouraging and caring for garden wildlife

SEPTEMBER