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.