They haven’t left us, quite yet…

Yesterday the warm thing in the sky returned… Over the past couple of weeks the weather has been teasing us with a day of sun and fine weather, and then a day of miserable persistent drizzle, sometimes turning heavy.

And today, the sun brought with it plenty of insect folk. I was surprised they had survived yesterday’s lashings… and even more surprised to see Butterflies and even moths flying in full daylight.

The Ladies continue to roam

Speckled Wood Butterfly

A Comma Butterfly landed right in front of me

Some type of moth…

What’s this? A cloudless sky?? Well well, I haven’t seen one of those in a long time. Oh yes, and there’s a Bee on the Aster :)

And finally, the Admiral stopped by, teasing me, daring me to take shots.

Copper Summer Days

The Small Copper returned… It's also Friday!

She's determined to get all the nectar she can…

*really* determined!

Big, scary changes are unfolding for me...

I know I longed for September.

Sometimes, be careful what you wish for.

It might just happen!

It all seemed like such a good idea almost a year and a half ago, now I cannot help but wonder if I've made a huge mistake.

Today I left work for the last time and enter the world of the unknown. I start my MSc in September and hope to gain enough work exprience to ensure I have a job when I finish.

I've no idea why I'm grieving like I've lost a dear friend or family member. I cannot put into words my emotions, they don't make sense.

Dancing with Butteflies

A self indulgent post really, these two were nicely dancing around on the sea holly, almost in unison as they drank the nectar.

As we come to the end of the season the cooler temperatures cause the Butterflies to be slower, and catching the photos is easier… either that or they've become accustomed to me?

A few more Butterflies, Bees and Other Creepy Crawlies

I sense a pattern forming here…

More Bees dying, not in copious amounts, but enough for me to wonder what's happening. They always seem to be the white tailed bumbles, I don't think I have yet seen a red tailed or other dying…

Dying on a Hollyhock leaf… its little body still lies there.

These two were 'asleep' on the Coneflower… I nudged them, but still very strange.

Happily, this one shows no sign of fatigue or dying.

Gatekeepers yet again… They must either follow me or wish to win the next series of 'America's Next Top Model'!

And as for that Meadowbrown Butterfly I promised I would catch… Well finally! It's a powerful flier, and likes to annoy the Gatekeepers.

The Crocosmia is beginning to flower and seems to be an attractive home to a number of different insects…

Shield bugs in different instar stages

And yep, more of those Gatekeepers!

To find out what the other residents are in the Crocosmia, you'll have to wait for another blog post!

Catch Up

I'm playing catch up again… I seem to have been on a photo-taking frenzy over the past week…

Happy Violas for the pots.

My first year growing Bergamot… I think I quite like it! The Butterflies and bees seem to anyway,

Lavender 'hidcote' bought reduced… They looked to be poor specimens in the pots, but put them in the ground and they look fine! Small, but they'll grow quickly enough.

A strange double-headed Scabious…

Small Tortoiseshell

Monkhood has been flowering for a while now…

I've seen a few Bees dying recently… Worrying…

This Bee wasn't in good shape…

And a dead Wasp…

10-spotted Ladybird

Harlequin? Or one of our larger natives??

Plenty of Gatekeepers once again…

Can you spot all the Butterflies in this photo???

Plenty of Shield Bug babies.

And a very welcome Angel's Fishing rod!!

Stargazer lilies… they've never been very good, I really ought to get rid of them, but their perfume is very heady…

Veronica 'Twilight'

Newly hatched Shield bugs

And an interesting sunset to close…