A lovely warm day brought out the bugs. Soldier beetles were climbing grasses in the meadow........
A jewel wasp joined him.......they do not sting.......note the large eyes.......
Painted ladies are flying in from south-west Europe and North Africa.
They are coming in great numbers. Dozens flew across the garden today....
Some were seeking nectar and stayed a while. It is a long time since I have seen so many........it was a wonderful sight, to see so many butterflies in such a short space of time. I hope that some will stay .........
24 comments:
I love it..bugs are so fun..Hubby saw a white frog today..on the deck, but it jumped in to the lilac bushes so no pic..
I will be keeping an eye out for him...
smiles, Deena
PS
I walk my garden each day too.. I'm like a lil plant mama
teehee
Deena
You got some beautiful clear shots! Love those painted ladies. I do hope some stay in your garden. I've never heard of a jewel wasp. Sounds kind of exotic!
Thanks for taking us along on your sunday safari. It's nice to see the garden come alive!
Dear Cheryl,
I can imagine what a thrill it is to see so many Pinted Ladies all at once. Thank goodness you have food and water for them and a safe place to rest. They have had a very long journey. I bet some will stay and lay eggs. I am sure you have host leaves for their young!
Lovely bugs this week. Happy happy Sunday safari, and Birthday to a special young man!
I enjoyed our hunt this week.
Sherry
There is something magical in seeing so many butterflies at once. With all the protected areas you have for wildlife, surely some will stay.
Dearest Cheryl, I love the butterflies. So amazing to think of how far they travel. I hope that some do stay in your gardens too.
I feel so bad!! Somehow I missed last Sunday's safari! The dragonfly is gorgeous. Such a delicate creature of nature. And thank you for posting it just for me... I am touched.
Hi Sweet Annee....I love bugs to, some are so unusual....the jewel wasp is delightful....
Walking the garden each day always brings me peace and contentment....I hope that is does for you to.....
Hi Wendy....I am sure the jewel wasp was looking at me....if you enlarge the photograph his eyes are enormous compared to his little body.....
Dear Sherry......it has been amazing to see the butterflies travelling so quickly through the gardens....it has been on the BBC news today, regarding the huge numbers coming here.
Yes I have the host plant and lots of them....stinging nettles. I let them grow in the copse and have quite an expanse now. Not every gardeners dream plant, but for me they are essential. The comma, peacock, etc all lay there eggs on them.
I also have frog spawn in the pond.....how thrilling......
I loved safari Sunday, also spending time with my handsome grandson.Thank you for his birthday wishes.....
Hi Beckie....some of the butterflies would have travelled 600 miles by the time they get here. The painted ladies are strong fliers and travel between 10 - 30 mph. I always have nectar in my garden so know they can pop in to refuel....
Re the dragonfly, after reading your post last year they will always hold meaning for me. The first sighting just had to be for you......
Hope you had a fun weekend???
Cheryl,we really enjoyed the bugs and Painted Ladies in your garden.It indeed lifts your spirit to see so many of them:)
As soon as I saw the lovely sunshine yesterday Cheryl, I thought of you and what a wonderful day it would be for your safari. I do hope you remembered your backpack and pith helmet!! ;)
I loved the Jewel Wasp, it has a lovely face on the enlarged picture.
Everyone is talking about the Painted Ladies and I have only seen three very fleetingly while out walking and none at all in the garden :(
However I loved seeing yours and I enjoyed sharing your safari!
Hi Naturestop.....all creatures enhance my day....to be with mother nature is, for me, a most uplifting experience.
I am glad that you enjoyed the safari.....
Hi Jan....yes I remembered the pith helmet and especially the water. It was my little grandsons six birthday. I held a party here and we played many games including swing ball. I had forgotten how it makes your arm ache.
I love the jewel wasp. It is a first for me. I have never noticed them before, although they are tiny....
The painted ladies have been incredible....I have enjoyed every moment of this experience. Taking my parents shopping this morning they were flying along the lanes and in front of the car. I think the reason we have so many here is because I am only 40 minutes away from the coast...
Hope you enjoyed the weekend sunshine.....
Cheryl, it's so good to see all the butterflies in your garden. I watched a PBS special last winter about the migration of the monarchs from Canada to Mexico each year, and I am just amazed by the habits of these creatures. You would have been in a state of bliss if you had been with Beckie and me this weekend--one of our stops was at a nature museum that had a butterfly house--just awesome! We had a wonderful weekend, and though I have lots of catching up to do around here, I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Gail, Beckie, and I all mentioned we wished you could have been there.
I'm sure some of the butterflies will stay. Your garden is so lovely and attractive to them, why would they leave? Loved the insects.
All the insects look like jewels in your garden. Nicely photographed.
Dear Rose....When I saw the butterflies it brought tears to my eyes....so delicate and so beautiful.
I would have loved to have been with you....it is always a joy to see the world of nature and gardens through a friends eye.....perhaps one day we will meet, I have a feeling this will be, just not yet a while.......life moves in mysterious ways.....
For me, to know how much fun you had, and meeting fellow bloggers brings a smile......
ncmountainwoman and Ruth....thank you so much for your lovely comments.....
Tanya Hill blog, is your purple flower not honesty? a crucifer. Can't see the leaves. lovely picc. Aloha from Hawaii
Cheryl I adore your photos. I love clicking to enlarge them and seeing the detail of beetles and wasps. Awesome! Your garden is so very beautiful. I would truly love to wander through with my camera some early morning, but I'm afraid you are just too far away for that. ♥
Hello Cheryl, The big eyed wasp has a wonderful name and isn't it romantic
with butterflies arriving from Africa and Europe. I had a wonderful visit with Beckie and Rose~~I liked meeting them so much! I wish you could have been there, too.
have a wonderful week in your garden...I am catching up and getting used to the hot weather again.
Gail
Hi Cheryl, your garden looks like such a wonderful, peaceful place. I love the Sunday Safari posts. I think we all need those safari hats when we read it! ;-)
That little red beetle is gorgeous. I haven't had that many butterflies in the garden yet this year. It has been such a cool wet spring.
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