I came across this poppy over 15 years ago, when we went exploring the then deserted prison island of Spike Island in the middle of Cork Harbour.
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The Spike Island poppy – From an abandoned prison island to my cottage garden
How to Choose the Right Wick for Beeswax Candles
When making beeswax candles, wick choice is everything. This practical guide explains how to choose the right wick for beeswax candles, how to test them for a clean, even burn, and why proper wick care makes all the difference.
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What Is Mad Honey – and Do Bees Make It in Ireland?
Mad honey is a rare toxic honey made when bees forage on rhododendron nectar containing natural grayanotoxins. Found mainly in Turkey and Nepal, it can cause poisoning.
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Swedish Rosehip Soup With Honey
This recipe for Swedish Rosehip soup is an easy, nutritious way to capture the last of the hedgerow harvest – rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
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Artificial Bee Food: Solution or Symptom of a Failing System?
Scientists have developed artificial superfood for bees, said to contain everything they need to survive so that they don’t have to rely on pollen for colony survival. In normal circumstances, without pollen, honeybees cannot produce brood food to feed the larvae, but what will this development have for the future?
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Are Blackberry Brambles Good for Bees?
If you’ve passed a hedgerow in August, you would not fail to notice that the blackberries. I love picking and eating handfuls of sun warmed blackberries while out beekeeping to keep the energy levels up. But did you know that Blackberries or brambles are extremely good for honey bees and other pollinators?
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Why White Clover is the Best Clover for Honeybees
White clover is renowned as the best clover for honeybees, but it only yields nectar under ideal conditions. Have you ever noticed a field or lawn blanketed in white clover yet observed only a few bumblebees and no honeybees visiting the flowers? That’s because honeybees require the right temperature to access the nectar. Why the …
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Why Most Daffodils don’t Attract Bees
As spring blooms with the cheerful Daffodil, we’re drawn to its sunny presence. But did you know its botanical name Narcissus name comes from a Greek myth: A story of immense beauty and unrequited love with a tragic ending? And though the flowers are so pretty and happy, why do we rarely see bees and other pollinators on them? Let’s find out why many of these beautiful blooms don’t attract bees…
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Stinging Nettles – How to Pick and Use in Cooking
I’m very good at growing nettles so I don’t have to leave my garden when I go in search of nettles! In fact, I make it a part of my spring cleaning the garden to pick the tips of the nettle before I pull them up if they grow somewhere they should not! I’m delighted that not only are they plentiful, they are also highly nutritious and very delicious.
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