Sunday 19 July 2009

Sunday safari

It is party time at the teasel's. I believe the invitation read 'All bugs welcome.'
First to arrive were the hoverflies,

I watched them fly in......


The bees were next, and they took up most of the feeding areas......



The cabbage white sat alone just enjoying the moment.
The rich coloured Peacock came in full dress, no tattered wings for her......
The Five Spot Burnet moth flew in and all the birds took flight. She is extremely poisonous.....
The Gate Keeper refused the invitation.....sweet marjoram was just too much of a temptation......
A hush descended as she made her entrance......the underwings showed her pretty pink patch as she fed on nectar.......
She is the painted lady...........
Quote: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.......




35 comments:

Cheryl said...

I wonder if anyone can help me id the bird on my header.....at first I thought it was a juvenile greenfinch, although the beak does not look right. As it flew away I noticed the back was a soft brown......it seems to spend most of its time in the large trees in the garden......

Thank you........

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Hi Cheryl, I too love teasels and that peacock butterfly is stunning!

Cheryl said...

Hi Minica....teasels are great....such a fantastic wildlife plant....
The painted lady is the butterfly for me....I love her underwings....

Lisa at Greenbow said...

You must be breathless with all this beauty in your garden. That Teasel is such a cool plant.

Liz said...

Cheryl, such wonderful photos!

I still haven't seen a single painted lady, obviously they've completely ignored us here :(

btw, I think the bird is a warbler, either a chiff chaff or a willow warbler, otherwise known as a wiffwaff as they're so difficult to distinguish without hearing their calls.
Of course it would also be a garden warbler...

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz....tku for that...I was just looking at a juvenile willow warbler in the RSPB book and thought it resembled mine. We have lots of willow in the garden,and this is a first for me. Thank you so much, how exciting.....

I have been really lucky with butterflies this year....the garden border I planted for them seems to be working......

Rose said...

Cheryl, your photos are indeed breathtaking! What a wonderful party you hosted...I must plant some teasels!

Ruth said...

Such beautiful butterflies! It has been such a cool summer here this year that our bees and butterflies have been quite inactive. Local beekeepers are noticing their honey production is way down.

Shammickite said...

I've been trolling through your garden posts, and they are all lovely! Congratulations on a charming and delightful blog.

Jo-Ann said...

Our teasels haven't flowered yet -- they grow "wild" here. I just love that peacock butterfly -- what a beauty!

Randy Emmitt said...

Cheryl,

Loved the photos of the teasel! I didn't know it was in Europe, likely came from there to the US. We are about 60 miles south of its range and glad for it as it takes over fields quickly. Enjoyed the post.

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
You have taken my breath away this evening! All of your bugs are beautiful...I do adore the Peacock...she is not in my area so I must enjoy her from afar! The Painted Lady is also one of my favorites. What a fun name Miss Gate Keeper has!
All of your photographs are lovely...teasel is a wondeful wildflower for so many bugs...
I enjoy Sunday Safari with you every week. Your garden with the bugs and the birds is truely Heaven on Earth.
Hugs,
Sherry

beckie said...

Cheryl, love your commentary with the photos. Those teasels are quite the critter magnets. How fun to see them being enjoyed by such a variety of critters. That 5 spot moth is really quite pretty. Great Sunday Safari-as always!

Cheryl said...

Rose....it was a wonderful moment to see so many beautiful creatures on the teasels at the same time....a good safari Sunday....

Cheryl said...

Hi Ruth....I always feel saddened when I hear that they bees and butterflies have not put in an appearance. Lets hope that next summer will be a warmer one....

Cheryl said...

Hi Shamickite and Jo Ann....tku for your comments.....most kind...

The peacock is stunning......

Cheryl said...

HI Randy.....you are quite right, the teasel can be invasive...fortunately in the garden you can just pull them out....

It is native to UK......

Tks for dropping by...

Cheryl said...

Dear Sherry....now that I have stands of teasels in the garden, they are attracting a lot of wildlife.....the finches will be next. Hopefully they will stay and let me take photographs (although I doubt it)...

It was a wonderful safari.....all the photographs were taken in twenty minutes....amazing....

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie.....the moth is pretty....I do not judge him....he adds colour to the garden and makes me smile....

The teasels have to be controlled but they are too much of an insect magnet to be ignored. They are here to stay...

I must just tell you my friend....Mr P called to me from the conservatory door..."Come look at this Cheryl"
On a piece of cloth he had the Emperor Dragonfly(our largest and most beautiful).....apparently he had gone into the garage and it was sitting on the number plate of my car.
I, of course, took the beautiful creature and carefully put it on one of my large plants.....
the strong winds yesterday must have brought it down.....

I thought it was amazing that this beautiful creature arrived at this time.....I have never seen it before, only read about it...

I shall post mid week about it, just for you......

Pat said...

Wow !!
You're getting some great pics !
You have so many friends in your yard...wish they would come visit me.
Maybe it has something to do with the late blight disease here in the northeast part of the states.

NCmountainwoman said...

Great photographs. And from the look of the teasel, the party is just beginning.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Beautiful photos, Cheryl. I will have to bring home a few teasel seeds to grow a small patch. Looks like a favorite with butterflies and assorted insects.
Marnie

Cheryl said...

Hi Patsi....late blight disease?? I would like to know more.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Marnie....they certainly attract insects. If kept under control they do give a wow factor to a wild corner.....

marmee said...

dear cheryl,

i am finally getting to read some posts this morning...i just went back and read several of yours that i have missed. life is full these days of summer.
i am so glad to have had the time to drink my coffee and read thru your blog...it is always so refreshing to me to just come to your garden. i love all the wonderful creatures that are visiting you on these summer days. i don't have teasel but wonder if it would grow here. i will have to try it since it seems to be such a magnet for the flying insects.
hope you are enjoying summer as much as i am.

Cheryl said...

Dear Marmee....thank you for spending coffee time with me. It is a busy time for everyone...we all try to keep in touch and that is all that matters...

I am enjoying summer.....I am becoming more and more in touch with my gardens.....the wildflowers are so pretty, I love to sit and watch the insects on them. I plan to plant more next year....they suit my life and my love of what used to be....

Tku for dropping by and have fun.....

Gail said...

Cheryl, it's a treat to see new butterflies and the Peacock is a gorgeous one...I love hoverflies! They are so valuable in the garden and move so quickly from flower to flower...I am so pleased to capture one photo...They must have been drunk on the teasel flower to pose so prettily on the teasel! gail

Wendy said...

Cheryl you are so creative! I loved how you made this into a story. Or a tea party, I should say (well, a teasel party if you want to be accurate. Oh and nectar too). I can see that everybody arrived on time - and dressed for the occasion too. LOL!

The peacock looked splendid in her party dress and the painted lady looked beautiful. I did not know the 5 spot burnet was poisonous. She looked so pretty!

Looks like you had a lovely Sunday Safari. I enjoyed peeking in at your party.

Naturegirl said...

Cheryl! Thank you for this front seat up close and personal viewing all the wonderful wings! smiling NG

ShySongbird said...

A breath taking party indeed Cheryl, absolutely delightful! Sadly the butterflies in my garden have been few and far between this time, we have had so much wind and rain recently and today has so far been a steady downpour, not butterfly weather at all! All your photos are beautiful, such colourful butterflies, a wonderful Sunday safari. I too think your bird is probably a Willow Warbler.

Cheryl said...

Hi Gail....hoverflies are often overlooked.....they are lovely insects, and as you so rightly say the gardeners friend.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy......glad that you enjoyed the post. I am constantly trying to find different ways of presenting.....I do not want bloggers to get bored with the same thing each week.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Jan.....tku re willow warbler. I have been watching the bird and looking in books. I think you and Liz are spot on....

I wish we had more rain. We have had heavy showers but the ground here is as dry as a bone. I have lost some plants and I noticed today two elders have dropped all their leaves and put down buds.

Butterflies are plentiful.....they are around all the time at the moment. It is delightful to see them.......and the bees of course.....

Dawny P said...

Hi Cheryl, I've had such a busy day today and I just felt the need for some peace and tranquility to help me unwind before I went to bed. And I knew exactly where to come. Your pictures are once again so stunningly beautiful - you have a rare gift with your camera. The picture you took of the Painted Lady is quite special. I do hope that you and Mr P and Mich and her 2 little treasures are all well and swine flu-free. Much love to you all xxxxx.

Cheryl said...

Thank you Dawny.....it is lovely to be enjoying the summer with the little ones....the garden is wonderful for outdoor fun....

Hope that you are feeling less stressed, and that you and Richard are well......