A Beautiful Day
The sun has been calling me outside and I’ve had a little bit of a potter around the garden… and discovered something quite odd. One of the Sea Holly has been ripped up – well actually, just some of its stems but not all – and a cornflower. I wonder if Fox has been around? I saw one at the bottom of our road last night. Seems rather strange. I wonder if Fox or Cat was after Ratty? It wasn’t far from Rattie’s home (really must tell my neighbour!)
The Bees and Hoverflies are out in force again, and there’s a few Butterflies around too *sigh*
They seem to like the Gaillardia; not too keen on the colour myself, but if the insects like it then it’s a hit in my book!
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Gwirrel's Garden 
Hi Liz,Love those last two images. Fascinating to watch. Glad you are still seeing butterflies. I saw a Red Admiral today and was over the moon.Did not get a photo though…..The rabbits are doing a lot of digging here. Mostly to get at the roots of plants….so frustrating.It has been a lovely warm day.I planted my bulbs today……crocus, dwarf iris, snowdrops and mini daffs.I like to add some every year….job done.
Hi Cheryl,We had a Red Admiral on the Buddleja today too; there are few blooms left but it was still taking full advantage of them. I'm glad I chopped them back at different times as it's meant they bloomed a couple of weeks appart and have lengthened the season for the butterflies such as Red Admirals and Tortoiseshells.I've checked on the caterpillar again and there's no change – I'd hoped it would be pupating but, clearly it takes longer than I had imagined!I haven't planted my bulbs yet, although I did buy quite a few a couple of weeks ago; I've also got another few hundred on order from the usual website I use… I'll get planting them just as soon as this work is handed in 🙂
The ultimate in caterpiller scrutiny. Easy to see why the gaillardia gets called jam tart plant.
The sun is calling you outside. Here is the sun is telling me to stay inside. Your photos are really pretty! Can't get much closer or clearer…wow.
I've never been a huge fan of Gaillardia myself…but that Scabiousa is great!
Hi Catharine,Thanks for visiting my blog :)I'm going to love watching this caterpillar developing.. In fact I need to go check it for today!
Hi Amy,Going outside is the only thing keeping me safe whilst I've been writing a dissertation… So yep it was calling me outside!I'm so excited to have the caterpillars in the garden, I hope next year to have more 🙂
Hi Scott,I bought the Gaillardia purely because it was only £2 and wanted a bit of late colour, but you are right it's not a particularly nice flower… The Bees and Hoverflies do like it though so I can't really complain.The Scabious show this year hasn't been very good, I lost all of them last winter so the ones grown from seed have had relatively few blooms compared to plants that were a couple of years old… Oh well, I'll have to sow more really for next year.