Monday, August 3, 2020

03/08/2020 A few photos mostly from the garden

Maximum temperature here today 23⁰C, minimum 13⁰C, by the weekend we will be back up to 38C again, the garden is struggling! A light shower that did not register in the rain gauge.  15km/h North-Westerly winds with gusts up to 44 km/h.

The first cosmos of 2020  (Cosmos bipinnatus) of this year.

A slightly bedraggled Common swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machon)...

As above

The Clouded Yellow brimstone (Colias croceus)....

As above.

Small Pincertail dragonfly (Onychogomphus forcipatus).

Garden Spider (Eriovixia laglaizei) I watched it for some time.  It had caught a hummingbird hawk-moth which it duly wrapped up well in its web.  It then cut the surrounding attachments leaving it at the top, and it the carried it up into its larder in the top of the greenhouse - fascinating....

As above.

As above.

Gatekeeper butterfly (Pyronia tithonus).

 Common swallowtail butterfly (Papilio machon)....

As above.

Small white butterfly (Pieris rapae).

Thirsty bees taking a drink.

Bumble bee (Bombus....)

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria).

Genus Lithobiusa member of Stone Centipedes Order Lithobiomorpha

Latticed Heath Moth (Chiasmia clathrate).

As above

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis).

A poppy seed head,

Pumpkin flower pollinators.



My local list of wildflowers. (89 Species 20/07/2020).

See also my



23 comments:

  1. Beautiful collection of photos. I love all the butterflies. Take care and stay safe! Enjoy your day, have a happy new week!

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    1. Thanks Eileen. Hope you also have a great day, comment appreciated. Diane

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  2. Wonderful series of images, Diane. Your garden contains many riches obviously, but it takes a keen eye and an expert photographer to come up with these pictures. Perhaps the fact that Covid-19 keepps us close to home is not such a bad thing!

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    1. Hi David, thanks for the comment and sorry it has taken me so long to reply. Just too much to do and not enough hours in the day. Staying at home is much the same as normal for us, the only thing I really miss is the odd meal out. Keep well and stay safe Diane

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  3. I love your photos as always. I've had a decline in the sightings of large butterflies in my gardens this year for some reason. Still see the tiny ones, but not the large ones. The poppy seed head is interesting. We usually view plants as a whole, but with a closeup photo it is really mesmerizing how intricate and amazing they are. Enjoyed your post.

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    1. Thanks Yvonne for the comment. We do not seem to have had as many insects as usual full stop this year, I am struggling to find them. I also thought the poppy head was a fun photo.. Have a good week Diane

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  4. Aren’t those butterflies such show-offs? They sure are pretty. However the way you photograph the others, they are all show-offs.

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    1. Thanks for the kind comment Marie as always appreciated. Hope all is well with you, Diane

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  5. Hi Diane - wonderful shots ... particularly the bumble bees 'heads down in the drink' ... lovely flowers, butterflies and insects ... while your spider selections are delightful to see ... creatures are just so amazing ... stay safe - Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary and sorry for the late reply, so busy and the garden is in constant demand of jobs to do! Yes creatures are amazing, they never cease to amaze me. I hope you are well and staying safe. Take care Diane

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  6. Absolutely superb photography and presentation of some wonderful subject-matter, Diane. Our own garden is looking very sparsely populated compared to yours - but I'm sure that you put very much more effort into yours!

    Take great care. My best wishes to you and Nigel - - - Richard

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    1. Richard I am struggling to find insects this year compared to others, but if I look hard..... I have been extra busy in the house and the garden so sorry this reply is so late. I am not doing a good job of keeping up I am afraid.

      I hope you are keeping well, very best wishes to you both, Diane

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  7. I totally could have done without the close up picks of the spider!! haha. I am not, have not and never will be a fan of those things! Great pics.

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    1. I am certainly not a spider fan but I am fascinated at what they are capable of at a distance!! Thanks for the comment and take care. Diane

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  8. Superb series of macros Diane, the butterflies beautiful, the 🐝🐝🐝's busy and the spider wise to fill it's larder :) Gosh I bet you are feeling that 38C when outdoors, good thing your house is cooler inside, mine is also, good for summer but chilly now in winter 😊 Hope you have a good weekend, take care ✨

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    1. I hope you are enjoying your break Grace. I agree the house is fantastic in summer but in winter it is hard to keep it warm. The thick walls do hold the heat in, but it is an expensive hobby keeping it up to temperature!! Stay safe Diane

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  9. That is the perfect frame for those blooms in the first pic.

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    1. I do love cosmos and they are always a reminder of beautiful Africa. Keep well, cheers Diane

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  10. Beautiful like always I love especially these butterflies and I find amazing these bees !! xo

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    1. Many thanks Gloria, I faind all insects amazing in their own way. Always great to have time to watch what they are up to. Stay safe Diane

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  11. You take beautiful captures of the plants and critters. Have a great day.

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  12. I thought I visited and left a comment here but it seems to have gone missing. Beautiful close up captures of flowers and critters. You take great photos. Have a wonderful week and stay safe.

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    1. Sorry Nancy I am just slow on the job at the moment. So much to do in the garden and then preserving the overflow. This is going to continue for sometime I think.... Stay safe, Diane

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