New Project in Atlanta

[vvand111]

I have about 2 acres down here in Atlanta.

I have decided to do away with most of my lawn and put in a meadow atmosphere for my bees,  I will be killing the grass this week and lightly tilling to prepare for sowing seeds.  Of course I will take into consideration what I am sowing when to accomplish my goal.

I have done some reading on what to plant and have received some of my seed to move forward with. 

Birdsfoot Trefold
California blue bell
French Marigold
Chamomile 
Poppy
sunflower
Zin master Zinnia
Lemon Balm
Horehound
Lavender
spearmint
Peppermint
Basil
Rosemint
Goldenrod

I would appreciate any additional suggestions from the forum on additional plantings.

Thanks
Vandy

[Mikey N.C.]

Clover seems to be  a real good one and there are lots of types, stopped at a southern states Mon. they had lots of clover for deer hunters. The sales lady told me ( for bees) to plant in spring.  I'm thinking of yellow clover , crimson clover, rape, broccoli raab and buckwheat and some others. I planted Mexican sunflowers this year and I haven't seen the first bee on it.

[Lburou]

A career in the US military moved us around quite often over 27 years.  I found each location had different plants native to the area and some from other areas did well too.  When arriving in a new place I would plant a variety of plantings and then plant more of the varieties that actually grew.   

So, plant as many cultivars as you can find in the area and wait and see how they do.  Plant more of those doing well.  A shotgun approach is a good way to start.  HTH   

Added:  Flax, batchelor buttons, cotoneaster, elaeagnus, cherry laurel, vitex, autumn sage, Nellie Stevens holly would be worth a try.

[Les]

What a great project.  I suggest you check out www.AmericanMeadows.com
They have a couple very informative videos that will help you get started.  They also sell wildflower seeds based on your region, which is very important.  Two acres is a lot of area to tackle at once unless you have the equipment to take on this project not to mention wildflower seeds are expensive. You might want to consider doing a section at a time.

[vvand111]

Thanks,

I am only doing about 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre  Equipment is not in short suppy and I am just an old NC farm boy so the work is refreshing especially as project begins to unfold and become successful.

[riverbee]

vandy good luck! 

planting for the bees/all pollinators irregardless of what you have to work with is a project.  we have done quite a bit of plantings with species of plants native to our area.  for the initial plantings we used prairie moon nursery to advise us after having some go arounds on 'do it yourself'.  not saying it didn't work out, could have been better in many ways.

we have had some large areas we have been restoring, two sections about an acre or so, we did the plantings with prairie moon's advise, and one large meadow, about 4 acres.  from here on out, prairie moon has done and will do the cutting, burning if necessary, we are not the experts equipped to do so.  the one large meadow was once a staging area just off our river for a local gravel company. nothing much has ever grown there, just here and there; we wanted to improve that and bring it back to 'life'. tilling, burning, roundup, etc......our first planting was last year.....it was  hard to see it recently cut........the beginnings of great beautiful plants where nothing much has ever grown was pretty awesome about a month ago.  it was a gamble, this area, but i think after seeing what has been accomplished it will only take a little more time.

good luck on your meadow vandy! 
 

[neillsayers]

Vandy,

It's going to be beautiful, much more so than a boring lawn!

[vvand111]

The websight Les sent is very good.  I will be talking to the people Riverbee mentioned as well.  Sounds like you guys have a great project going on River

I have begun the process and so far so good. I will post some pics 1 of these days.  I have a good friend up in Apex NC that has a nursery. He is an expert in indignant wild flowers for that area. He will be coming down to consult with me and is interested in getting into bees. I will send him up to IDEE after I show him some of the basics (get started stuff) 

Mikey  how far are you from Apex??

Thanks for the info and encouragement. All is appreciated.  Its all about having happy and healthy bees and I am enjoying.

Vandy

[J-grow]

Yes ...... Pictures please.  Sounds waaaay fun!

[Les]

Good luck with your project and please share pics.  I started ripping out a narrow section of lawn last year to make it a pollinator bed.  So far I have large patches of Anise Hyssop, Mountain Mint, Borage and Valerian.  The Valerian is a too tall messy dud as far as pollinators utilizing it.  I will be ripping it out this fall.  The bees love the Borage but it does not hold up well in our climate.  Too humid and the rain downpours pummel it. The bees absolutely love the Anise Hyssop and Mountain Mint.  I left my seed heads on all my coneflowers and butterfly milkweed last year and have dozens of volunteers popping up all over.  I will transplant them into the pollinator bed this fall. Makes me so happy to see my yard alive with so many different pollinators!
Now if this doggone humidity would just end so I can get back to working outside!