the admiral's return

The first red admiral I have seen this summer. It was flying very briskly, so much so that the vibrations from the wing were audible.

gilding the lily

the heart of the flower head of a guelder rose, and the oddly extravagant and unnecessary (it would seem) false flowers on the periphery.

like a needle in a hay field

the effectiveness of the camouflage that butterflies use is not always obvious when they are on the wing and showing their brighter sides. It is almost impossible to see the meadow brown in the top picture even if you know where it is, and it is only just visible at much closer range.

flocking to church

Attendances are up at our church, standing room only!

laurel Cottage

It not only looks nice it smells heavenly! 

meadow life

for the first time this year the butterflies are stirring in the meadows. There were dozens of meadow browns (top) and skippers (middle) and the occasional ringlet (bottom), but no sign yet of the bigger and more colourful species, and no painted ladies.