Window Box Wildlife!

 

You don't need a garden to do some wildlife gardening. All of the above were found on plants in one window box. No special native wildflowers were planted, just annual flowers, such as a dwarf sunflower, nasturtiums, and marigolds. A Cabbage White butterfly was spotted fluttering about the window box and must have been laying eggs. Soon after these hatched and there was many caterpillars, that feasted on the nasturtium leaves, before leaving to become new Cabbage White butterflies in a few weeks. Honey bees visit for nectar, and a ladybird has a siesta in the petals of the dwarf sunflower. All this life on a window ledge, that without the window box would be lifeless.

It highlights what a massive difference to wildlife it would make, if more people had hanging baskets, containers and window boxes. Not only would it boost insect numbers, it would also boost bird numbers, as the insects would provide plentiful food for many different species.