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September in the Garden

Things are beginning to look knackered in the garden in September. You might think it's time to cut back some of those long flowering perennials which have done such good duty over the summer. Don't! Mid September is late season for insects. Late butterflies, honeybees* and glossy new queen bumblebees are feeding on the sedum, but most of the summer's excitement is past. Wildlife gardening books urge you to keep any ivy, which is an invaluable source of late nectar too. I was impressed though to discover our geraniums buzzing with action yesterday. That's geraniums, not pelargoniums - there's sometimes a confusion. Among other varieties we have 'Rozanne', which has become a ubiquitous favourite in garden centres over the last few years. It has a nice habit and, unlike our native meadow cranesbill, goes on and on... and on. Not only did we have some lovely but familiar visitors on it today, but we also had something rather special... Butterfly on geranium The Small Copper is a pretty little butterfly that you can see about into October in a good year. This is most likely its fourth - and last - generation of this summer, before it overwinters in its larval stage and pupates in April. It's pretty widespread across the UK and a common site in our garden. Geranium and honeybee Honeybees seem to love geraniums. Their open flowers are ideal for the bees' flat short tongues, and they have been working them for most of the summer. The bees are busy finishing stocking up now ahead of winter. Their colony is beginning to contract and there are fewer brood to provision. Common carder bee This is a Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum). She's looking a bit ragged at this end of the summer. There are only a few worker bumblebees around now, and their nests are breaking up as the new queens fly off. By the way, you can see her longer tongue very clearly in the photo. And now... the unexpected... Colletes hederae, the Ivy Bee. This chap is rare enough that I had to check the ID with my solitary bee guru Stuart. They've only been in the UK since 2001, and it's highly unusual to find them inland from the south coast. Geranium and Colletes hederae They look a bit like honeybees at first glance - very smart - and fly quickly. It's very late in the season for a solitary bee, but that's because their main source of pollen is... ivy. Apparently they nest in south facing banks; I would love to find out where this one came from. Colletes hederae We've had several notable sightings of rare species in the garden this year. It has been really exciting, if I'm being honest, and a great illustration of what we can all expect if we create diverse and appropriate habitat. Even in the garden in September. Plant it and they will come, you might say. *which occasionally get picked off by a passing hornet