New habitats and insects

Newly laid bark on one of our bog gardens

I’ve been reading various guides to attracting wildlife in gardens, and I’ve been at work! One recommendation is to use bark on bog gardens to reduce evaporation, and provide hiding spaces for insects. AI tells me that I’ll get flies, mosquitos and gnats - all fodder for dragonflies.

I’ve also expanded the log garden, with more logs, bark, pine cones (a hide out for ladybirds) and rotting crab apples.

We’ve positioned a new tapering stick in the pond for dragonfly to land on.

I’ve bought a burlap bag to keep fallen leaves in, and I’ve ordered a big sack of bark to use as mulch around the trees and hedge.

We have a new insect - ground yellowjackets (Genus Vespula). I’m hoping that they aren’t making a home in our garden since apparently their underground colonies can contain thousands of individuals that can become aggressive in late summer and fall. That said, it seems unlikely they’ll settle in such a small space.