Saturday 21 June 2014

Painted Ladies


In my last post I described the flocks of butterflies that were swarming all over the gardens and I mistakenly identified them as Peacocks.
They always seemed to be fluttering quite fast and never stayed still for long enough to positively identify them.
One day last week, I was gardening and found one butterfly that was resting in the shade of a honeysuckle hedge so I was able to study it at length. 
It was a Painted Lady which is another common species of British butterfly that lays eggs on thistles. Plenty for the caterpillars to munch on in the neighbour's garden that is filled with them.
 Maybe not quite as spectacular as the Peacocks, but they do look dramatic when they are all fluttering by the dozen and during the late afternoon and early evening they continue to visit in kaleidoscopes, which is the collective name for many, apparently.

Life goes on in a humdrum sort of way in this household. One day is very much the same as the next. Harry continues to make small amounts of progress and has enjoyed sitting out in the garden during our glorious sunshine. The weather is consistently summery and I see that today is the longest day already.
It is still light at ten o'clock in the evening and the sun rises again at 5 am.
It will all start to change from now on, little by little but we should get another two months of summer if we are lucky.



19 comments:

Gosia said...

Great news that your husband is better. Painted ladies are so nice.

dianefaith said...

Butterflies and summer -- very nice! I'm glad Harry is able to be out in the sunshine sometimes. It's hard when one day is like another is like another. . . but you are good at noticing the moments of beauty.

Rose said...

We don't have Peacock butterflies here, but we do have painted ladies. Nice to see so many fluttering about , no matter what they are.

Brian Miller said...

i am glad he enjoys being outside....surrounded by life how can we have a bad day...i love butterflies...i think of them as little sky dancers in their colorful tutus...smiles..

Jackie said...

The longest day of the year....and days get shorter after today. I hadn't thought about that.
Gentle hugs to you and Harry, Maggie.
Sending love to you both,
Jackie

Irene said...

A butterfly by any other name...?

I am glad to hear that Harry is making small steps of progress, but sorry to hear that your life is so humdrum. I wish The Channel wasn't between us so I could drop by for a cup of tea. Wouldn't that be fun? I am sure we would have lots to talk about.

Take care of yourself, Maggie. There is only one of you. xox

RNSANE said...

It is good to hear that you and Harry are having a good summer, filled with butterflies. Here, a hundred miles north of San Francisco, at my son's home, it is very hot but I guess it will prepare me for my return trip to India the end of July. I'll stay four months only this time and will celebrate my 70th birthday while I am there.

It's been fun spending six months with my little granddaughter who is now 14-1/2 months. Her favorite word is "mine" - everything is hers or so she says. She is such a delight.

Expat mum said...

I've been hearing about the glorious weather in England. Enjoy!

Suburbia said...

You're sounding tired dearest Maggie.

I love the collective noun for butterflies-I have learnt something today!

I do hope you are not wearing yourself out? Let me know if I can do anything? Xxx

Sally Wessely said...

The butterfly is gorgeous. Love butterflies, or as we used to call them as kids, flutterbies…

Good to hear that Henry is doing better.

Secret Agent Woman said...

Pretty butterflies. I love the long days!

Haddock said...

Sitting out in the garden makes a lot of difference.
Almost forgot about that longest day in the year.

MARY G said...

Butterflies are a terrific mood lifter for me; I hope they are for you and for your husband as well.
We spent the longest day on the lake, giving our boat her shakedown run. No flowers or butterflies, but lots of nesting loons.

Wisewebwoman said...

A kaleidoscope of butterflies - thank you that Maggie I will add it to my exultation of larks as the most joyful of collective nouns.

Days blending. I'm up against that too. I want to slow everything down to a crawl.

XO
WWW

Jinksy said...

I've heard TV telling us butterflies of any sort are under threat in England, so I'm glad you have a 'kaleidoscope' of them :-) ♥

Shammickite said...

I think there are not as many butterflies in my back yard as there used to be. Lots of mosquitoes though!!!!

Hilary said...

Lovely summery weather is so good for the soul. May it remain so for you and Harry well into the season and far beyond.

How beautiful to witness the magic of numerous butterflies. I feel that way when I look out and see a dance of dragonflies. Particularly since I know they're feasting on mosquitoes.

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Suburbia said...

I'm glad there is a little progress. How are you feeling though Maggie?