More insect attracting plants

Today I sorted out some lovely plants sent a couple of days ago by Gardening Express for me to add to my new bee and insect attracting beds.

If you haven't come across Gardening Express before, this is what they say about themselves.

Gardening Express was established in the late 1990's by Chris Bonnett, whilst still a teenager, after he decided it would be a fantastic idea to combine his passion of the great outdoors and plants with the Internet. Following past experience of plants purchased from other mail order companies, it was quickly decided that there was room for much improvement in the market; they never seemed to grow and we knew we could do much better, and so, Gardening Express was born.

I first encountered them via someone who had used them in a display garden and  I like the Gardening Express website. As as they say on their website 

As testimony to our quality, we've been successful enough to be selected as a supplier for high profile designers, that exhibit at such events as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Celebrities, PR companies and film set designers all trust us to supply the plants they need - we're only ever a phone call away for those special requests, or a tweet to @GardeningExpres if you’re in with the Social networking trend.

I like this bit especially!

Everything we sell is guaranteed - we don't send out anything we would not be delighted to receive ourselves. Most of our plants are supplied pot grown, and we tell you exactly how large or small they are. We were fed up of ordering expensive plants and being sent spindly twigs with no soil. Our specially designed packaging ensures everything arrives with you in pristine condition.

We believe in the price you see is the price you pay, unlike other companies that sting you with hidden charges, all our prices include delivery to your door for all orders over £175. With our price promise, and 5 year Hardy Plant Guarantee, you have the peace of mind that you could not buy better plants anywhere else.

They very kindly offered to let me chose a few plants to try out and write about from their very good selection of herbaceous perennials and I decided on 

Alchemilla mollis - Lady's Mantle. 

Verbena Bonariensis. 

Verbena Rigida - Low Growing Perennial Purple Verbena.  

Achillea filipendul.'Cloth of Gold' - Yarrow.  

Geranium sanguineum.

The plants arrived by courier, well packaged in cardboard

 

Each plant pot was wrapped in a plastic bag ( to preserve moisture?) which I did not like so much, but I can recycle the packaging so that was OK. The  cardboard will be added to the compost bins or wormeries.

The plants are HUGE! And in good condition, considering they are herbaceous perennials which are now coming to the end of their flowering period. I was also most impressed that the pots contained multiple plants, not the usual one - so in theory I could split them and get several plants from one pot :) I like that in plants :)

At the moment I am in the process of digging out another new flower bed, so I think these will stay in the "nursery" area and be taken care of in pots for a little while, until I decide exactly where I want to plant them.

 

I am MOST impressed with both the customer service and the plants from Gardening Express, I have had a few plants from them in the past, apart from these latest ones, and I would definitely order  plants from them again

 
When I work out what to plant in my new, year round insect attracting bed I will HAVE to consider how to include some of this mint (without it taking over!)

This herb box outside our kitchen window is absolutely alive with hoverflies, bees, butterflies, wasps and flies. You would not believe how buzzing with life it is :)