The maximum temperature here today is 27⁰C, minimum 15⁰C. North-West winds of 17km/h with gusts up to 37 km/h.
One day I will catch up with the South African photos!
Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)...
As above...
As above.
Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) with its breakfast...
As above, but you can see how the flies are worrying the spider. Wish it was eating them rather than the bee.
European greenfinch (Chloris chloris). I think this is a juvenile.
Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) ...
As above.
As above - bottoms up 😊
Anthidium is a genus of bees often called carder or potter bees, who use conifer resin, plant hairs, mud, or a mix of them to build nests...
Note the slightly different markings here but I am sure still the same species...
As above...
As above.
Caught in the act - (Graphosoma italicum) is a species of shield bug. It is also known as the Striped bug and Minstrel bug. if you look closely you can see 3 nymphs in the bottom left of the photo. There are in fact nymphs all over the place we are soon going to be inundated with these little guys.
As above...
As above, but the underside.
Adonis ladybird (Hippodamia variegata),
Seven-spotted ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)..
Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum).
Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).
and a few flowers
Californian poppy with hoverfly. Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta).
A rose that I have no name for grown from a cutting.
Hydrangea.
Daylilies.
A miniature rose that was a gift several years ago and keeps flowering.
Outstanding pictures, Diane - but they always are. It is remarkable (or perhaps not) that so many species are similar on both sides of the Atlantic. I am struck by this especially with swallowtail butterflies. Keep enjoying summer. I know it's your time of the year, but I wish it would get over and done with so I don't have to deal with heat, and with luck the wildfires that are systematically destroying the boreal forest will be over for another season. I shudder to think of the wildlife that has perished and the reduced habitat for migratory birds next spring when they will return to breed in forests that no longer exist. Bonne journée, bisous - David
ReplyDeleteThank you very much David for the kind comment. I am sure the fires have caused a lot of damage and deaths of wildlife, very sad. A friend in Portugal the other day was complaining about the smoke from Canada so I can imagine how bad it must be for you!
DeleteYes, summer is my time of the year and I hate the cold but each to their own. I also find so much more to photograph in summer, winter photos are so much more difficult to find.
Take care, bisous Diane
Beautiful captures, Diane. Love that swallowtail! The flies around the spider and the bee is curious. I too wish the spider had the flies and not the bee.
ReplyDeleteThe blooms are beautiful. Incredible to get such a beautiful rose bush and roses from a cutting!
Thanks Marie, not often I see such a perfect swallowtail with two complete 'tails'. The flies were obviously attracted by the dead bee but the spider was hanging on to it's meal! I love that rose and I think I need to take another cutting from this one. Keep well cheers Diane
DeleteFabulous insect photography, Diane! I'm very taken with the swallowtail and spider shots, and that bee is an absolute beauty - I see it is present in UK, but I have never seen one to the best of my knowledge. Your flower images are gorgeous too.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering what photographic kit you are using these days. Whatever it is, you are handling it perfectly!
My very best wishes to you and Nigel - - - Richard
Hi Richard and thanks for the kind comment. Have you got lavender in your garden? We have a number of plants, and almost all my insect photos at this time of the year are around the lavender. Maybe you could attract some carder bees.
DeleteI am still using Nikon D3500 - TAMRON Megazoom - 18-400 mm most of the time, but occasionally I get a good shot with the Nikon Coolpix S7000. The latter I often carry around as the bigger camera is not practical to have by my side when working in the garden in the sun
Keep safe and best wishes to you both, Diane
Those shots are absolutely stunning, Diane. I really love that butterfly...just so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you Angie, I was thrilled to spot that butterfly in such perfect condition the other day. I hope all is well, Cheers Diane
DeleteBeautiful butterfly. I never seen a white spider before.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy for the visit, I hope that you are on the mend. We have a lot of these spiders around and many change colour to yellow depending what plant they are on. Take care, Diane
DeleteHi Diane - wonderful photos - I love the fact you give us various options ... also with some notations. Beautiful plants ... lovely to see ... thanks - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary, Just doing the photography at the moment is taking up time, so although I could give you even more info if I had more hours in the day, I try to limit it to what I think is necessary.
DeleteI hope you are well. Cheers Diane
Your photos of insects never cease to amaze me. So many, so sharp and so big. well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane your kind comment is much appreciated. Keep well, cheers t'other Diane
DeleteInteresting and complete photographs of the very little details of a good garden. Because a garden is usually ever full of little Life. Have a very nice month of July.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the very kind comment. We try to attract as many insects as possible. All the very best Diane
DeleteA marvelous series of photos. I always have trouble picking a favorite. Cheers and all the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks I also have problems picking which photos to blog, I take far too many and I run out of time! I hope all is well. Cheers Diane
DeleteBonjour Diane,
ReplyDeleteUn régal toutes ces photos de ton jardin. Le verdier juvénile est déjà beau et tu as de la chance d'avoir le geai à la maison. Moi il reste bien caché dans la forêt ou alors vient très vite pour chasser les petits oiseaux :(
Gros bisous Diane et à bientôt
Salut Nathalie. Le Jay ne cause aucun problème à nos petits oiseaux. Il vient juste voler de la nourriture et boire un peu d'eau. Merci pour le gentil commentaire. Bisous Diane
DeleteSchitterend Diane,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty in the garden.
Ontzettend bedankt. Best wishes to you and the family.
DeleteSummer is my season. I love seeing your insects and flowers. You've so much patience for these captures.
ReplyDeleteLOL Gaelyn I have no patience at all. Mainly a lot of luck and not much else. Enjoy your travels, hugs Diane and Nigel
DeleteHello Diane. Those are super pictures of the Scarce Swallowtail – scarce indeed up here in England although we do seem to have butterflies this year. It has been a lovely June but now getting back to normal with breezy cool days. We ate out in the garden every evening for four weeks and more !
ReplyDeleteI like the rather gruesome pictures of the Crab Spider even if, as you say, it would have been better to eat the snack of a fly. The strip shield bug is spectacular like a football shirt of some unknown team and you have the same daylilies as us, recently rescued from a shady spot in the garden and replanted in a sunny spot in a pot and thriving. Have a good week and keep posting.
Thanks Phil the lavender has been busy bringing in all the bugs this last week so I have a lot more bug photos!
DeleteI was fascinated by that crab spider and the flies were really irritating it. I brought one tiny day lily from the UK 16 years ago and now we have too many plants though I do not want to throw any out!!
Cheers and take care Diane
Beautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, your comment is very welcome. Diane
DeleteYou have some great close-ups. You really captured the patterns especially on the butterfly/moth wings.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for the visit as I know you have been busy. Take care, cheers Diane
Delete