
Going Blue – Frank Schuurman
It is interesting how many of our winter flowering “Bee” plants are blue, to start with we have LAVENDER, many varieties, tall, spreading, small flowers, large flowers, originating in the Mediterranean area and used for their outstanding perfume. In the Provence region of the south of France is the perfume capital of the world “Grasse” in that area you can find hundreds of hectares of Lavender and “Miel de Lavande”. Lavender Honey is a lovely light fragrant fruity honey widely available.


We grow Marshwood and Sidonie, easily propagated in October-November, if pruned in January Lavender will flower from May till November. The next Blue plants are Borage and Rosemary, both useful herbs and good honey producers, Rosemary originally came from Syria and is widely grown, Borage is also from southern Europe and can easily be grown from seed. Rosemary can also be easily propagated from cuttings.


Phacelia is another very useful crop, originating in the America’s and used as a green manure crop, sown in January it will flower in May-June providing you have a nice open and fertile ground. Cheers Frank June 2012
great little read thanks, Just thought you may like to know that Phacelia when growing conditions are ok will provide you with between 180 to 1,500 pound of honey per acre, We grow phacelia in the vineyard between the rows last year and did really well, Bees really love working it and when collected with clover tastes really nice.
thanks kevin
Thanks Kevin for the feedback, yes we must take Franks advice and plant some Phacelia. Thanks…Gary
Can never go wrong with a bit of lavender or rosemary! A must have in every garden I think
Thanks Irene for the feedback, had a look at your site as well very nice indeed.
Yes we need to plant for the bees….Gary