Even when in the house, my eye is caught by the butterflies fluttering by, that is enough to send me into the garden with my camera. The weather recently has beem sunny and warm, with not much wind, it has made a nice change from all our rain during August, ideal weather now for butterflies to visit the garden.
Red Admiral on white Buddleia. This is one of our most frequent visitors.
A Silver Washed Fritillary, again on the white buddleia. This is a large butterfly and I think we are very lucky to have this in the garden.
A Peacock on the buddleia near the pergola in the side garden. Another frequent visitor.
A very smart looking Red Admiral just having a rest on a Euonymous bush.
Tortoiseshell butterfly and a Peacock on a buddleia by the front drive.
Comma butterfly on the pink buddleia by the drive. It gets its name from the comma shaped mark under its wings.
A Painted Lady butterfly in the front garden. I haven’t seen one for a few years now so was really pleased to spot this one.
Another view of it.
Another Red Admiral.
A better view of a Tortoiseshell.
A Speckled Wood butterfly having a rest on the back lawn. The males circle over and over each other fighting for their patch of sunlight in the woodland.
To finish I will show you not a butterfly, but a moth, the daytime flying Jersey Tiger Moth to be precise. We have seen one in the garden for about the last 5 or 6 years, I hope they will now be a permanent fixture. It was enjoying feeding on my huge Eupatorium hybrid by the driveway, the flower heads are enormous this year, probably due to so much rain over the last few weeks. When the wings are open , it shows a flash of bright red, maybe to warn off predators.
These are a few of the visitors that have been visiting me over the past few days, they are all very welcome. As they flutter by, they add more colour to the garden and they obviously know that there is plenty of food here for them, we keep a well stocked nectar bar!
The butterflies are lovely Pauline and I must congratulate you on your photography. I have never heard of the Jersey Tiger Moth but it is really beautiful. I do hope they continue to live on your doorstep.
Thank you Denise, photographing butterflies is easier since I got my long lens, I can stand back away from them and click away, they don’t know I’m there! The Jersey Tiger Moth is omly in the south of England, we didn’t ever see it when we lived in the NW, I hope they stay with us too.
Hi Pauline,
What a wonderful post! Pollinators are one of the things that drive me to garden. Due to the common use of pesticides here they are declining. You have so many kinds and your pictures are amazing. It makes me want to have more Butterfly bushes!
We have trouble over here too with the overuse of pesticides Sally. Bees and butterflies are struggling to keep their numbers up so it is up to us gardeners to plant as many plants for them with nectar and pollen. The Asters are now starting to flower and they are covered in bees, also the huge hybrid Joe Pye weed is a great favourite with both bees and butterflies.
Lovely shots of them all Pauline! 🙂
Thanks Cathy.
Lots of lovely butterflies Pauline and your photographs are great, that you. I send an email please let me know if we can meet, thanks Christina
Thank you Christina, a lot of patience is needed when photographing them. I have now sent you a reply for your e.mail
What a great range of butterflies, Pauline – lucky you!
We are lucky in that we have woodland butterflies Cathy, as well as a couple that just like long grass, that means that I don’t have to be too tidy!
Oh what especially welcome garden visitors Pauline. You must have been really quick off the mark with your camera and have some beautiful photos to show for it.
On the few days when it is sunny, with not much wind, Anna, I’m usually prowling round the garden with camera in hand, just waiting for something to flutter by.
How beautiful, you must be supplying a pretty banquet for them all. Marvelous pics, I loved your moth, I haven’t seen any of those around here.xxx
Yes Dina, we do have plenty of food ready for them all. The Jersey Tiger Moth is just in the southern part of the country at the moment, but with global warming, who knows how soon it will be before they decide to visit you!
A lovely post Pauline – such variety and excellent photographs. It’s never easy to get really good shots of Butterflies.
With a long lens Sue, I can stand quite a way back from them and not disturb them in their drinking frenzy.