Shortly after we set up home here I bought a packet of primula seeds. There were hardly any flowers in the garden and I wanted some colour. I was pleased with the quantity of seedlings that resulted and which prospered and multiplied. This suited me very well as there were plenty of places to put in new plants when the older ones were split. However, as the years passed I began to run out of places and because you can’t eat primulas the neighbours were not interested in them either.
In addition, as I accumulated more flowers I found that the primulas could cover the smaller spring flowers like the crocus and snowdrops. The red one with the yellow centre was particularly vigorous and I decided that definitely this year, enough was enough. They could have their last flowering and then it would be the compost heap.
That was until this morning.
I’d seen him roaring through the broad beans yesterday afternoon, he was either chasing off another male or trying to catch a female as he didn’t stop. The Anthophora plumipes bees were back. They are one of my favourites. Who couldn’t not love a bee with a name like the Hairy-footed flower bee? (Please note his hairy feet.)
I never knew they liked Primula and Narcissi. I should have because BWARS gives a long list of the flowers they visit.
So this is how a bee saved some Primulas from the compost heap.
I couldn’t get rid of them now, could I?
a french garden 
I do like the flowers . . . if they grew here, I would not mind them taking over the yard.
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You’ve got to admire their ability to elbow out any competitors for their perceived territory and as you say they are pretty!
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Nope, you’re stuck with them now. I love your hairy footed bees. What do they do with all those hairs on their legs? Is that for carrying pollen?
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It’s only the males that have the long hairs on their middle legs. The females have hairs on their rear legs that are used to collect pollen. I like the long fronds on the males legs, perhaps the female bees are impressed too! 🙂 Amelia
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Wow, I’m surprised. I dislike the look of primulas but I’ll put up them if the bees like them.
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I haven’t seen honey bees on the Primulas yet but they are spoilt for choice at the moment and seem to be doing a lot of pollen gathering. Amelia
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I’m all for any plant that helps bees and / or butterflies. We should all plant more of them.
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I’ll keep my eye on them and see what else likes them. Amelia
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No, you can’t just get rid of a flower that attracts your favorite bee. You could thin them. After all, it’s clear that a big part of your gardening strategy is to provide sustained blooming, to keep the bees happy all season (indeed, all year, if possible). So, thin the primulas, but, as much as they may require some occasional reining-in, they are part of the bee program and have a firm foothold in your garden and in the hearts of your bees.
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Quite right, even the red and yellow can be but in a less favourable part of the garden as it is so vigorous. They accept being chopped and replanted very well. I really prefer the more natural yellow colours but anything can be accepted if it helps the bees. Amelia
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Definitely not! Anyway, I find the primulas charming – so bright and colourful, and I have had to change my view too – my garden grows what IT wants, not what I want! Perhaps you could ease your conscience by just pulling up the new seedlings before they flower next year….
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They are here to stay now, I just have put up with thinning them out and moving them. You are right, we only have so much choice with what we grow in the garden. Amelia
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Bees find so many flowers attractive especially at this time of year when there is less choice for them. I like the bright cheerful faces of the primulars.
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The bees have a lot to choose from at the moment but it amuses me seeing which ones are their favourites. Amelia
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Definitely the primulas have to stay but I agree with avwalters; thinning the primulas would be a good idea. They get too leafy otherwise. I must do something about mine.
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I have to thin them every year but last year I started to get a bit tired digging them up, cutting them in pieces and finding homes for them all. This year I am going to put them down under the trees at the back and they can sink or swim but I’ll give them a good chance. Amelia
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I put some of mine in a corner of the garden with that same idea. They sank! But I still have plenty more to try in another corner.
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Of course not. 🙂 I could never get a primula problef, or, maybe I have, some pale yellow ones..
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They are here to stay, I might be able to find different places for them.
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Hello A,
Glad to see that you’re enjoying some great weather as well. It’s interesting that you’ve not noticed bees on your Primulas before (and I love the pics and shall have to look out for this stout fellow up here). But 2 days ago in similar weather, I spotted 3 or 4 insect/flower interactions which I’ve never seen before in several years of looking, and I’m still trying to figure out why this might be. (I’m inclined to agree that the Primulas should stay, though such a strong red would probably have been rooted out by me at first flowering – much to Fiona’s annoyance!) Fascinated by your ‘wild bee’ colony piece as well BTW. BW, Julian
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I think it depends on the weather which effects which flowers are present in the area when the insects are there. There is definitely a “pecking order”, so it depends on what is on offer and what is abundant at any given time.
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They seem happy and healthy. Maybe relocation to an other spot.
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I think they are too happy and healthy but they will be relocated to somewhere they will need to struggle a bit more! Amelia
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WelI find them a bit over the top, I would rather have primroses and cowslips.
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I prefer the natural yellow colour too but I am always indulgent when it comes to the bees. Now they say they like them, they won’t end up in the compost heap. Amelia
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I have primroses and cowslips in my garden but no primulas. They do look very jolly and if the bees love them, maybe I need to find room for a few.
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They will grow anywhere so perhaps you can put them into a difficult place that will benefit from some colour without much trouble. Amelia
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