Another Week

As I am sure everyone else is experiencing the days continue to merge into one. Each much the same as the day before! With the slight relaxation in the lockdown it appears it is now possible to drive somewhere and go for a walk. I really am hoping to do this soon - not to a park or anywhere there might be a lot of people but to a quiet country lane somewhere. To be honest, although B and D go for a local walk most days, I have only been in the garden and once or twice taken the car for a short run to make sure the batter doesn't go flat, so it will be very strange to actually go a little further field.



So for now it is more from the garden and house.



Sowthistle growing in a pot - I am not sure if this is prickly or smooth sowthistle. However, its days may be numbered as it is in the plantpot I need to clear to plant herbs!

Rhododendron

Fly - Green Bottle?? - on Azalea flowers. More bees are appearing but it is not easy to get a photo that is not blurred!

Green Shieldbug

Caddis Fly after being released from the moth trap last week - I haven't put the trap out again as temperatures overnight have been low.

B re-potted the Christmas Tree last year and it is now putting out lots of lovely new growth.

Meadow Buttercup

The Red Campion border - it looks more impressive in real life than it does in a photo.

Honeysuckle is in bud - I usually miss this as it tends to flower when we are on our June holiday which won't be happening this year!

I am SO hoping this Cardoon will flower this year.

Red Valerian

E made these little iced fairy cakes - luckily I already had the little unicorn decorations in the cupboard.

I've made a couple of Picnic Fruit Loaves. I did have a slight mishap with one as when I opened the oven after 45 minutes to cover the top with foil to stop them burning one of the tins (which is a weird shape and only has a small base) had fallen sideways and half the mixture had fallen to the bottom of the oven! I have to admit I scooped it up and put it back in the tin! It did taste a bit dry but was edible!


I think nurseries may be starting to open but I didn't know this last week when I ordered some herbs and lavenders from the National Herb Centre. They arrived on Wednesday and will be planted out hopefully this weekend.

A tiny posy of flowers I picked from the garden.

I am still continuing with the little journal but not drawing every day!!

I hope everyone is staying safe and well. Take care everyone.


All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330

Big Butterfly Count and some other Garden Insects

Since 2010 Butterfly Conservation has organised a yearly nationwide survey where people can spend 15 minutes counting the number of butterflies they see in their garden or other location and then submit their records. Last year 60,000 people participated submitting 62,500 counts of butterflies and day flying moths. It is now the world's largest butterfly survey.

Butterflies are excellent biodiversity indicators as they react rapidly to environmental change. Therefore declines in butterflies provide an early warning of potential losses in other species. The Big Butterfly Count also helps to identify trends in species allowing plans to be made to protect those in decline and it will also help scientists to understand the effects of climate change.

This year the survey runs from 20th July until 12th August and you can submit as many counts as you like.

I know many of you enjoy taking part in this count too and I look forward to discovering what others have seen.

I've done three counts so far - all in the garden.



Big Butterfly Count 1


Brimstone x 1

Small White x 2

Large White x 1

Holly Blue x 1

Gatekeeper x 2

Peacock x 1

Big Butterfly Count 2

Holly Blue x 1

Gatekeeper x 1

Speckled Wood x 2

Green-veined White x 1

Small White x 7

Large White x 2



Brimstone x 1




Big Butterfly Count 3

Speckled Wood x 2

(Sorry rubbish photo I couldn't get any closer without it flying off!)

Large White x 1

Small White x 3

Gatekeeper x 1

Holly Blue x 1




Worryingly, I have only seen one Peacock and no Red Admirals, Painted Ladies or Small Tortoiseshell.


Although not seen during the counts, we have had several sightings of Skippers

Small Skipper

Large Skipper

I was also thrilled just before one of the counts started to see a Small Copper in the garden. Sightings of this butterfly here are so unusual that I thought at first I it was a new garden "tick" but on my checking my records the last sighting was in 2006.



Garden Bees

Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

Common Carder

Bees on echninops

Garden Hoverflies


Golden Rod is flowering in the garden and Hoverflies just love this flower.

I need a better photo to be able to identify this species.

One of the Eristalis species possibly tenax.

Myathropa florea

Marmalade Hoverfly

Volucella zonaria

Flies

Tachina fera - thanks to Kevin for id help.

Greenbottle

Garden Moths - I haven't been trapping moths as often as usual this year so it was good to see a day flying moth on a buddleia in the garden.

Mother of Pearl

Hairy Shieldbug - I found this shieldbug amongst the washing. If my id is correct it would be a new species for the garden

Wooden Bee - This lovely little carved bee was a lovely surprise in the post from a friend who enjoys carving the most wonderful objects out of wood. Thank you Peter.

Butterfly Pin Badges

For a few years now I have been collecting beautiful limited edition butterfly pin badges designed and produced by Paul (many thanks to Paul). These are the two latest.

Weird Effect

When I was looking out of the bedroom window a few nights ago it looked as though the sky was floating above a neighbour's garden.

The effect was caused by the reflections of the eastern sky in the open window I was looking through. I am not sure if the photos bring out the effect that well but it was a strange experience!



D has started to grow vegetables again.

Green Peppers are doing well and

the tomato plant brought back from the Isle of Wight now has baby tomatoes on several trusses.