Thursday 16 April 2009

Bees and Butterflies.......

This is a Speckled Wood........I saw her enter the garden........
she headed towards the woodland walk, and fed from the spotted Laurel flowers.......

I think this is the female, she has large buff spots. Her speckled wings give her ideal camouflage in the dappled world of light and dark.


Just beneath her a Carder bee visited the Pulmonaria........



This little bee loves these blooms.......
I wish I was a bee with my head inside a pretty bloom......how about you??




26 comments:

Rose said...

Oh, Cheryl, I am picturing you as a bee with your head inside this bloom:) I know you would be a contented bee.

Lovely images; I haven't seen any butterflies and just a few glimpses of bees here so far, but I think they will return soon. The sun is out here, and it's getting warmer! Have a great day in your garden.

marmee said...

dear cheryl,
i am so happy for you to be getting the wonderful flying creatures. we have seen a few bees here and there. it still needs to warm up a bit and this next week we will be planting so soon. i love seeing yours they are beautiful...magical...wonderful. i am heading out to do some work...it is the warmest right now.

Cheryl said...

Dear Rose....I have always said that I was a bee in a previous life....perhaps I was!

I am glad the sun is out and the weather is warming up.....we are having a spell of sunshine and soft gentle spring rain....I am loving it.....oh to be in England now that spring is here......

Cheryl said...

Dear Marmee....I am so pleased that your weather is warming and that you are getting the chance to plant. I look forward to seeing your creations with anticipation, your journey is my journey.....

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Love your pictures Cheryl. I haven't seen a butterfly in my garden yet this spring. It has been so cold, damp and windy. I did see a big bumblebee this morning going after the Brunnera blooms. Your post has encouraged me go step out to see what is around this afternoon. If I find anything interesting I will post later.

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa....it is good to hear that so many are seeing bees.....I find this so encouraging.....

I am glad it is encouraging you to go out....I love to see what is going on in other peoples gardens. It has amazed me how many bloogers have had owls in their gardens this year.....I live in hope....

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

The speckled wood is so cute, but the bee all the way up ion the pulmonaria bloom is priceless! My pulmoonaria are also blooming, by the way, though you are at least a month ahead of us otherwise. (And about 7 months ahead with Coronation Street!)

ChrisND said...

You have such a variety of butterflies and bees in your garden...it is a wonderful place.

To be a bee...would be a much different view of the world!

ShySongbird said...

Those are beautiful photos Cheryl, I love your Pulmonaria flowers the colour is just lovely against the speckled leaves and your Carder Bee was a busy little creature.
Talking of speckles how lovely to see the photos of the Speckled Wood Butterfly, I photographed one in my garden a few days ago but it was completely out of focus due to my eagerness to capture it before it flew away.
I hope it will be a good year for bees, I have noticed quite a lot of Bumble bees in the garden recently, more than this time last year I think.

NCmountainwoman said...

Beautiful photographs. I haven't seen a butterfly yet, so thanks for sharing yours.

Cheryl said...

Hi Monica.....interesting I do love to know what is happening in gardens worldwide....I find the whole topic fascinating......

A Coronation Street fan??

Cheryl said...

Hi ShySongbird......I understand your excitement and ending up with a blurry photograph......I have learnt the art of staying calm over the years.......and now I join the butterfly or bee for a while and then after a few moments take a picture.....it usually works.....

I have been so pleased to read of many bee sightings......I do hope they are on the increase.......they need all the help they can get.....

SweetAnnee said...

LOL
I don't need to be a bee..I just stick my head in there anyways!!!

smiles, deena

Cheryl said...

Sweet Annee....soooo funny.....tku for joining in......

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oh yes! They look intoxicated as they sip from my flowers!
Brenda

Wendy said...

I also stick my head (or really my nose) inside a bloom and it comes out full of pollen!
Ah - to be a bee. That must be nice. I think you must have been a bee in another life.

Thank you for sharing your lovely photographs. And your secrets. In reading your comment to someone else, you said that you've learnt to be calm; sitting with the bees or birds awhile and then snapping the pic. I will remember that next time I try to take a pic. The birds all seem to fly away just when I go to click the button.

beckie said...

Cheryl, the butterfly is a beauty, can't wait for them to start showing up here. The carder bee looks very happy to have such delicious blooms. I know they are enjoying your garden. Hope you have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

`Beautiful` photo`s as always Cheryl..TFS
Hope you all had a lovely Easter...
Have a lovely weekend:)♥

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
She is a lovely little butterfly. I am always, "wowed" by the way Mother Nature clothes her creatures. This little butterfly blends in perfectly.
I understand the desire to be a bee! I sometimes will look deep into flower and try to taste the pollen. Bees are better at it!
A few butterflies have emerged here. We have April showers today and tomorrow hoping they do bring May flowers.
Lovely, lovely photographs. I see your coffee table book developing. "The Birds and Bugs of the Kent Countryside". I'd love a copy!
Have a relaxing weekend.
Sherry

Gail said...

If I were going to be a bee I would want to live in your garden Cheryl...you would welcome me and I would be a safe bee! I am beginning to see more bees and the butterflies have arrived....It's a good time of year when life is feeling new again. Thank you for your wonderful support..Gail

Ruth said...

I love your Pulmonaria. I have kept mine going from a root I dug from my grandma's garden over 20 years ago. She is long gone, but I look forward to these lovely blooms every spring. You get great butterfly pictures!

Cheryl said...

Dear Wendy.....you are so sweet to read my comments as well......I do hope that this helps you get your bird photographs. I normally find a place to sit where I see some activity and allow the bird, butterfly etc to get used to my being there. It has worked well for me, I hope it does for you.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie.....thank you.....I am sending butterfly thoughts to you......
the gardens are alive at the moment, this brings me joy and helps me get through issues that are dominant at the moment....

I hope all goes well this weekend and much fun is had by you and yours......

Cheryl said...

My dear Sherry.....if you would seriously like a book of photographs of insects etc from Kent, I will start one now to send to you at Christmas.....I will write in it to. Let me know......it will be a pleasure to do it.....

I can see you trying to taste the pollen from a plant.....did you know the nectar from wild lamium tastes like honey. Years ago children who lived in the countryside would suck it from the flowers......I have lots of lamium in the garden and indeed it is extremely sweet and most pleasant.......

Stay well....

Cheryl said...

Dear Gail....this is indeed a wonderful time of year....everything is fresh and lush and new life is appearing.

Pleased that bees and butterflies have come to your space....enjoy.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Ruth.....I love the story of Grandma's pulmonaria.......it is wonderful when a plant has history.......

Thank you re butterfly