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A ring or whorl of petals that are usually arranged this way to attract insects for pollination.

The transfer of pollen - by insects, wind or hand - to the female stigma, after which fertilisation of the ovule ensues.

The honey-like liquid secreted by plants. It's commonly found in flowers, and attracts bees and insect pollinators.

The lip-like lower petal of an orchid flower, which is distinct from the others both in form and patterning. Serves as a platform for pollinating insects.

Poor early-summer weather, with a prolonged cold spell, and few insects results in poor pollination. This means courgettes fail to develop, and they quickly rot on the plant. However, this is only a temporary problem, and once the weather starts

and other insects. The display will provide shelter for insects to roost or hibernate, food plants for various caterpillars, and sources of nectar for pollinating insects.We created a scheme of nectar-rich nepeta, lavenders, geranium, polemonium, salvia

, and can be picked off by hand.The moment you spot an infestation, spray them with pyrethrum. If the plants are in flower, spray in the evening, so pollinating insects aren't affected.verbascum, buddleia, figwortsmid-spring to midsummerMore advice

other insects hibernate in its foliage.Ivy, Hedera helixLate-flowering buddleja supplies insects with nectar when others have finished flowering. Pollinators attracted to its blooms include bees, moths and hoverflies.BuddlejaMany hebe cultivars flower

is an organic method of maintaining a natural balance in your garden, aiding pollination and keeping pest numbers down. Common plant combinations include growing herbs with roses to deter aphids, and planting alliums around carrots to ward off carrot root fly

. However, they can remove quite a large area of leaf.Wait for the solitary female and swish her away. Try to avoid killing the bees because they're invaluable friends to gardeners, pollinating flowers.roses, wisteria, epimediumssummer to autumnMore leaf