Top right: my watercolour daffy-down-dillies pattern Bottom row: all the various coordinating patterns Top left my faux-patchwork pattern using the original desing and some of the coordinates |
Lesser Celandine springing up everywhere at the moment - these are nestled at the foot of one of the mature trees in Bailey Park, just across the road from me. |
Forsythia in my rather wild front garden |
Question 1 – why are so many of the early spring flowers yellow?
There are primroses, crocuses, forsythia and of course, the 'host of golden daffodils' that Wordsworth celebrates!
A Google search quickly revealed that bees and other flying insects are attracted to yellow and that helps the plants to pollinate and ensure the survival of the species. (Later in the year, when flowers are more multi-coloured, the centres, where the pollen is held, are still invariably yellow).
This also answers the question of why my yellow crocuses are pecked to death by the birds, whereas the purple ones are left free to grow undisturbed – the birds are after the insects that were attracted to the yellow flowers!
But I couldn’t find an answer to my second question –
Question 2 – why are the yellow flowers normally followed by blue and purple ones?
Voilets, bluebells, purple crocuses, harebells, irises - and of course this wonderful purple Aubretia, that has escaped from my garden and attached itself to the huge hedge of evergreens that runs down the side of my house.
This also answers the question of why my yellow crocuses are pecked to death by the birds, whereas the purple ones are left free to grow undisturbed – the birds are after the insects that were attracted to the yellow flowers!
Here you can see the damaged remains of the yellow crocuses in contrast to the thriving purple ones! |
Question 2 – why are the yellow flowers normally followed by blue and purple ones?
Voilets, bluebells, purple crocuses, harebells, irises - and of course this wonderful purple Aubretia, that has escaped from my garden and attached itself to the huge hedge of evergreens that runs down the side of my house.
I'm sure Mother Nature has her reasons for blue to follow yellow!
Anybody know the answer?
Anybody know the answer?
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