Bumblebees and Russian Comfrey

by | Jun 5, 2018 | CobraHead, Environmental Issues, Farming, Gardening, Vegetable Growing

Bumblebees love Russian comfrey.  The plant is frequently recommended as a bumblebee magnet.  I often find four or more different varieties of bumblebees in the comfrey along with many other pollinators who also like the plant. My son Geoff introduced me to Russian comfrey (Symphytum × uplandicum) over 20 years ago when he brought home a few roots from the farm where he was working.  It likes it in my garden and I have to work to keep it from spreading too far. ...

Marigolds Attract Pollinators

by | Oct 29, 2016 | CobraHead, Environmental Issues, Gardening

About five years ago I bought a flat of marigolds at a garden show in Rockford, Illinois. The flat cost only five dollars. I presumed the marigolds were neither organic nor open pollinated, but they looked strong and there were a lot of plants for the money. I thought I would stick marigolds at the ends of the raised beds to add some easy and quick color. This was in June. The plants performed well and bloomed until hard freezes came. They put out seed heads with...

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