Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Garden Moths and Flowers

Garden Moths

I've been putting out the moth trap most nights for the last 10 days or so - overnight temperatures have been mild and humid (great for moths!)


Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria) - new for year



Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis)


Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra) - one of my favourite moths and a sure sign that autumn has arrived. New for year.


A collection of Lunar Underwings (Omphaloscelis lunosa) showing some of the variations in colour and markings.


I was particularly pleased to trap a Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) as this is not only new for the year but also a new species for the garden.


Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)


Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) - new for year


One of the Plume Moths - Amblyptilia acanthadactyla


Blair's Shoulder Knot (Lithophane leautieri). This particular species is a recent colonist - first seen on the Isle of Wight in 1951 - which has spread rapidly northwards. (New for year)


Other new species for the year which I didn't manage to get photos of include Snout and Red-green Carpet. I am having a few problems with wasps getting in the trap and devouring moths at the moment:( Although I've had problems with robins and blackbirds hovering round the trap as I empty it this is the first time I have caught so many wasps. I may give trapping a break for a while now.




Garden Flowers



Cone Flowers are now going to seed but still look attractive I think.



Elsewhere in the garden there is still plenty of colour

Various species of Rudbeckia have done well this autumn



Michaelmas Daisies are probably my favourite autumnal flower - we used to have deep pink and white varieties but these days only the purple seem to have survived.



Cosmos is still flowering profusely in both the front and back gardens. When I came back from shopping this morning 4 Common Carder Bees were seen around the flowers. Talking of bees - I am reading a Sting in the Tale by Dave Goulson at the moment. If you love bees and haven't read the book I would thoroughly recommend it.


Verbena bonariensis is still flowering


Ice plants/sedums are starting to flower - I know they are supposed to be good for bees and butterflies but I rarely see any insects on ours :(


Seedheads of St John's Wort and Wild Carrot in the wildflower "meadow"




Climbing Hydrangea and Clematis Seedheads



Although the two Echinops plants I bought thrived I only got one flower! - seen here in all its glory :)


About a year ago the yucca we planted in the garden was damaged - in fact it was split in two either by gales or an intruder we had in the garden at the time who was trying to scramble over the fence and using anything to gain a foothold. I was really upset as we'd had the plant for years. B "coppiced" it and we're really pleased how well it has started to sprout from the base.


We're still collecting tomatoes. I am so hoping I will have enough green ones to make Green Tomato Chutney.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love all the moths. I haven't had a carpet moth in ages so enjoyed seeing yours :o)

Your garden is looking good- we get bees on our sedum and still have Cosmos going strong, although our echinops never did flower!

Ragged Robin said...

Countryside Tales - Thanks so much CT :)

Interesting about your sedum - when I go to NT gardens their sedums are always covered in bees/flutters. Hopefully, both our echinops will survive the winter and flower well next year!

SeagullSuzie said...

Yuccas are always being chopped back here in Torbay and they grow back just like any other plant, but then it is warmer!
Love all the moths, especially the new ones, great names for fab looking moths.

Caroline Gill said...

A fabulous post ... I'm so in awe of those of you who know your moths! Terrific autumn colour from your flowers. Long may the sun go on shining (though we've had bits of rain this week). Thank you for your kind comments on my Bearded tits ... we've waited so long, and it was such a joy to make a sighting!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Great selection of Moths and you still have some flowers before the frost arrivves

Ragged Robin said...

SeagullSuzie - Thanks so much especially for the information re: Yuccas :) Moth names totally intrigue me - I do wish someone would bring out a book on the subject :)

Caroline Gill - Thanks so much - so glad you enjoyed the moths and flowers. Looks as though weather about to change here. I can imagine how excited you were about the Bearded Tits - would have made my birding year :)

Margaret Adamson - Thanks so much Margaret. Cosmos in particular are really flowering well - so hopefully frosts some way away yet :)

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Wonderful things moths, I'm now at a point where I can recognise about 20 species...out of 600!

Ragged Robin said...

Simon Douglas Thompson Thanks so much for your comment :) Well done on the 20 :) - when I first started moth trapping it used to take me hours sometimes to identify just one moth! Persevere and it does get easier although we are all still learning and there are many species I struggle with and we won't mention worn moths :)

Anonymous said...

What a great selection of moths, I particularly like the first one.

The Quacks of Life said...

the changes in the garden is fascinating isn't it

Ragged Robin said...

Toffeeapple - Many thanks :) The "Thorns" are lovely although sadly I don't trap many :(

Pete Duxon - Thanks Pete - been a real change over the last couple of days with the colder (wetter) weather!!