A healthy garden is one where bugs of all sorts visit – especially bees.

Did you know that there are thousands of species of bees around, and all are essential to sustainable living, so it is our duty to create a habitat that is conducive for bees.

“When it comes to planting, we are not normally thinking about the effects of what we plant. We rather focus on what will look good and what would require the least maintenance, but it is important to plant for the environment, and of course keep the bees in mind. Here are some facts about bees you should know,” says Granny Mouse Horticulturist, William Brown.

He continues: “Bees are responsible for pollinating a third of the fruit and vegetables humans eat. Some bees need the nectar from certain flowers and vice versa. Pollination from bees allow humans to yield a good crop and without them our agricultural world would be ruined.”

When planting into your garden, it is important to ensure that you include bee-worthy plants that boast a variety of colours such as purple, blue, white, yellow and orange, as bees have excellent colour vision and are drawn to these kinds of flowers.  It is also important to plant one kind of species in bunches which will attract a larger amount of bees to pollinate the area and ensure the flowers you choose can be planted in direct sunlight.

“Bees enjoy bright and sunny spots,” he adds.

Types of plants to consider:

Perennials: Dahlias, Roses, Yellow hyssop, Anemone, Geranium

Annuals: Sunflower, Calendula, Zinnia, Marigold

Herbs: Fennel, Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary

Fruit and vegetables: Peppers, Cucumbers, Raspberries, Strawberries, Wild Garlic, Pumpkin.

Apart from successful planting to attract bees, one must also consider that even though you have bee-attracting plants, pesticides can detract or even harm bees that do arrive in your garden.

According to gardencollage.com, vinegar is a great alternative for weeds. “Given that bees are our main pollinator, it doesn’t make sense to use pesticides that have been proven to kill them, especially when there are alternatives that are safe, easy to use, and cost effective.”

Natural weed killers are products such as vinegar, Epsom Salt, pepper, garlic and onion and even Eucalyptus Oil.

Happy planting!

“The greatest barrier to success is fear of failure” – Sven Goran Eriksson.

For every conference to be a success, one needs to ensure that one is prepared for failure, and has a set plan to ensure all bases are covered, so there is minimal room for the event to fail.

A conference should have DNA – Direction, Networking and Action!

Direction is when the conference has been planned well, and there is a set schedule, running time, programme and that all speakers are briefed before taking to the podium.

The event must ultimately be leading somewhere of purpose, to a set goal in order for it to be successful. Whether your aim is to inform the public of a product, team-build, discuss a variety of topics relating to a certain issue, train staff, host a fundraising event, gala dinner, or similar, it is key to have a programme of events, with set times for breaks and socialising.

Second, is networking. Networking is especially important at a meeting where there are strangers and the guests do not know each other, as it may lead to potential business and contacts. If you have staff from different branches, it is important for them to network and get to know each other better, so that relationships can be made for a better work flow between them. If you are training a team, it is important for the team to network and discuss different interests and enquiries – this could be done through group discussion and then a feedback session at the conference.

The final need for any conference, is action. Action is the act of fulfilling the goals set out to do – from meeting questions raised at a Question and Answers session, putting a newly learnt skill into action in the workplace, following up on a new lead at a business networking event and even keeping in regular contact with colleagues from the same company, to ensure familiarity.

These three steps are only a tip of the iceberg for a successful conference and can also overlap into life itself, by having direction, making new contacts and taking action to achieve a set goal.

In whatever kind of conference you decide to host, ensure that your ideas are shared with others before hosting the event. It is always wise to gather advice from different perspectives before hosting any event, to avoid wasting unnecessary costs, ensuring the topics are relevant, the guest list is sent their invites and the RSVPs are received timeously, and a plan B list is in place, to avoid having less guests than anticipated.

For your next conference, book at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa who offer a range of conferencing options and provide advice on hosting a successful conference. Contact 033 234 4071.