We have waited 16 months for them to bloom. Poppi and I grew them from seed. Aquilegia Chocolate Soldier is a rare choice species. Sweetly scented, delicate, chocolate-brown blooms. The flower is tiny (1.2cm....1/2 inch) and exquisite. I shall share seeds at the end of summer, let me know if you would like some. These are not for the impatient gardener.
Ornamental apple, a ladybird and an ant. Each year ants farm aphids on this tree. Ladybirds will lay their eggs near the buds. As the larvae hatch they will feed on the aphids. Perfect for the organic gardener.
I followed the orange tip butterfly into the copse.
He was seeking shelter and some warmth.
He danced in the breeze on a spring snowflake.
I sat on the fallen willow trunk and was totally captivated.
Orange tip butterflies are my favourite.......
The male hatches before the female......
I love their dappled green underside, it gives them perfect camouflage.
Happy Sunday safari.........
27 comments:
A lovely tranquil post - thanks for a great start to my day. Love those chocolate aquilega and would like to join the list for some seed please.
Jane
Hi Jane.....Will put your name on the list.....
Glad you enjoyed the post...happy Sunday to you.
Lovely post Cheryl. I also love Orange Tipped Butterflies & I'm ashamed to say I've never really noticed their dappled underside - will look more carefully in future!
Wonderful post! I love your blog, it makes my heart feel good.
Hi Sharon.....it is surprising what you notice through the camera lens.....
Thank you Isadora.....
Hi Cheryl,
Lovely photos, I've been waiting to see my Orange-tips but nothing so far... I hope the bird's foot trefoil won't go unnoticed!
Lovely Aquilegia, I have some seedlings I've been waiting years to flower and still nothing yet! They were from the last house and self seeded in some of my pots as I moved out. Just as I'd been upset I forgot to bring the original with me... They're keeping me waiting that's for sure!
Hi Liz....I have just planted bird's foot trefoil in hanging baskets. I was so surprised last year at just how nice it looked and if I forgot to water them it did not matter.
Chocolate soldier took three months to germinate....at one point I had almost given up. Glad that I did not.....
Lovely post. I scrolled to Poppi's picture and imagined the two of you planting the Chocolate Soldiers.
Beautiful photos Cheryl - I can almost taste the chocolate! Poppi is so fortunate to have you teaching her about the natural world.
The chocolate columbine is gorgeous. It makes one want to take a bite out of it. The Orange tip is so sweet. It is so small. I have seen an orange tip here and it appears larger. Hmmm Maybe it is a different species but it looks the same. Or maybe my recollection is not right.
P.S. If you have plenty of seeds of the Chocolate columbine I would love to have some.
Hi Lisa....the orange tip is very small. I am only guessing that yours would be larger than ours.
I will put your name on the list for 'chocolate soldier'...
Have a fun week.
Hi Cheryl,
Wow, three months to germinate... I think I would've given up...
The Aquilegia's I grew last year took a matter of days I believe, but may take a good while before I have flowers on them.
What a beautiful butterfly! I've never seen one of these before; I think its underside is just as interesting as its colorful wings. The chocolate aquilega looks so pretty; I can't wait to see it in full bloom. Poppi is learning so many things from you--this is a great lesson in patience, too.
Hi Rose....I love the underside of the Orange tip....it fits in so perfectly with the foliage of the garden. He can hide away very easily.
Poppi is a very patient little girl......except when she is hungry (a little like her grand-mother). She does not eat huge amounts but when she is hungry, she is hungry.
Have a lovely week.....hope you are feeling less tired.
Cheryl, What beautiful pics! Enjoyed walking through your garden. I'm a first to your blog and will be back for sure! Have a nice day!
Dear Cheryl,
Orange Tipped Butterfly is exquisite! So dainty. I understand the joy of stopping and being with a butterfly!(or a bee or a fly) I too love to see how well the invertebrates have learned the art of camouflage. The Orange Tipped's underwings are very lovely. It is wonderful you are teaching Poppi about the relationship the bugs and the flowers have with each other. She will always be a friend of the bug.... they have so few....without the bugs humans would not survive. We need them ALL, even the dreaded ones. There is no such thing as a bad bug!
I am growing chocolate mint this year in one of the window boxes for munching on when I need a taste of chocolate. I will think of you and Poppi.
Wonderful Safari....Thank you,
Sherry
What a pretty butterfly. The tops and undersides of his wings are so different.
In this area, the Asian lady beetles were introduced years ago so now we have more of them than we do aphids. A good ratio I suppose but I seldom see our native lady beetles anymore.
Marnie
Such a pretty little butterfly, I can see why you were so captivated by it. And that chocolate columbine is amazing.
Dear Sherry, you are so very right. Not everyone understand the importants of all creatures.... especially bugs. They are bottom of the food chain, so therefore most important.
Mr P and I took the children out for brunch yesterday.....we sat outside. Poppi and I watched ants. She was totally absorbed and quite happy just watching the little creatures go about their business. I understand her world and she mine.....
Chocolate mint sounds very delicious....I shall tell Poppi about this.
Hi Marnie....the Asian ladybirds have arrived in UK.....I am not happy about it. They are already causing problems with our native ladybugs.
I had the first visit from them last summer.......
I can see why the orange tip is your favorite...What a lovely critter. Cheryl, it's always a joy to stop by and see your garden...I am once again feeling relaxed! gail a chocolate columbine! How wonderful~ I would love a few seeds...
Hi Gail....thank you.
I will put you on the seed list.....
God! the pics are awesome. Also, the write-up complement the pictorial collection. It reminds me of my nature walk at the gardens in Darjeeling
Hi, i am about to comment on your newest post, but i suddenly saw the snowdrops with butterflies!!! They are so wonderful, as snowdrops are my favorites even if they dont grow here. How envious of me at looking with these things in their natural habitat. I just sigh so loud. thanks.
What a lovely poem. Next time you have Poppi round, show her the fairy doors in Ann Arbor! :)
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