As slowly everything wakes up, so are the bugs, butterflies and other polinators and creepy crawlies will wake up to gorging on nectar and pollen. And as I was walking around my garden I've seen fluttering by cabbage whites, bumblebees, peacock butterflies, tortoiseshell and commas. I've managed to hypnotise into staying a comma and a tortoiseshell butterfly just long enough to take a few pics.
Planting for wildlife always brings a smile to my face. For instance I was splitting potted Tete-a-tete mini daffodils, and I haven't gotten the clumps in the ground yet, when this orange bottomed bumblebee found it and decided to have a feast.
May
Hot days bring out more and more birds and bugs to enjoy the sunshine and heat, but I think wildlife in my garden copped on that they have a stalker, because I had a terrible time "catching" this little Holly Blue Butterfly. I've seen Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens and plenty of Woodpidgeons and Turtle Doves etc. Although when it comes of nest building why do they always choose the most ackward places??? A little Wren has chosen my shed to build her nest, but unfortunately no matter how quiet I moved around outside the shed she abandoned her nest after a few days. I watched the shed for a week but she didn't return and when I checked there were 6 eggs in it....Tragedy, so much energy in building a nest, laying eggs then for some reason just abandon it. It really broke my heart a little bit. But it is what it is.... I just hope the little Wren has found a better place to build another nest and bring up a family....
On a happier note a Wood Pidgeon mama is still on her nest, the same momma who managed to raise a chicklet last year, I spite her nest being robbed twice..... Her nest is in the Hawthorn tree behind my big greenhouse. Everytime I'm there I can see her on her nest, I wish her a good day and advise her to be careful and don't let the nest robbers too close. Good luck momma! I just wish you'd learn how to build a proper nest 😔
June-July-August
And now and again one is eye witness to the marvel of nature, a pure transformation. The transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly is called metamorphosis. Specifically, butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis, which involves four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Egg: The life cycle begins with an egg, often laid on a leaf or stem.
Larva (Caterpillar): The egg hatches into a larva, which is the caterpillar stage. This stage is primarily focused on eating and growing.
Pupa (Chrysalis): The caterpillar then forms a pupa, often enclosed in a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes a dramatic transformation.
Adult (Butterfly): Finally, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.
Every gardener's nightmare the cabbage white. It only takes a mamma butterfly and a pappa butterfly and the damage is done. Every gardener cringes when they see them fluttering around the cabbages.... But the smart gardener knows that sacrificial plants can make a difference. I used nasturtium as sacrificial plants in my greenhouse, and all is good. While they munch on my nasturtium, the other plants can grow and make me happy. I'm looking forward to see the pupa stage and the birth of the new generation of butterflies that might end up food for birds or other creatures and some will hibernate.
And this is the life cycle of a butterfly. To be eye witness to such a great miracle of life is very humbling, I feel insignificant and tiny, but also very privileged to see such. Just one of those little blessings in one's life .....
All the best
Annamaria
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