painted lady invasion

Yes Mageth I saw a report in a newspaper yesterday about these butterflies.Despite us thinking its still quite chilly ,the butterflies think otherwise travelling so far north. The trouble is some of our native ones may find it too warm ! Where will they end up ?

I had several in the garden this afternoon! :-)

I had to scroll sown the page as quick as I could as I am freeked out by butterflies and moths.even now I can feel all the hairs rising and my palms getting sweaty, I didnt read all your blog just caught bits about there being a lot of these due...
is this going to be in a particular part of the country?

eeek... really I feel sick to the thought of these everywhere I go, I know its silly but
(shudder)

x x x

Oh dear, Mookins. You will be spending the summer indoors with the curtains drawn. You will HAVE to try to get over this..err. phobia.

xxx

sorry to freak you out Mookins. Its just such an unusual occurance I thought people would like to know. Im sure they wont ALL turn up in your garden. Does anyone remember the year we had an explosion in the ladybird population? You could hardly take a breath without inhaling one! And if I remember 1996 was when we had a scorcher of a summer. Maybe the butterflies know something we dont

We saw a Painted Lady for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago. Since then there have been many visiting our garden, along with the Scarce Swallowtail. Why the sudden appearance?

Lucky you seeing a swallowtail Nariz. The conditions must be just right for these creatures this year. I hope there is enough thistles around as that is the painted lady preferred food

Yes Mageth, there are plenty of thistles in the meadow over our garden for the Painted Ladies, and we live in the mountains so the conditions are right for the Swallowtail. When I lived in Essex I used to get excited if a butterfly came into my garden - now I walk along the lane at the front of our village and am surrounded by small swarms of about 8/10 different species of butterfly. When we water the garden we are surrounded by small bright blue butterflies - it's like living amongst bright animated flowers!

Nariz, you will have to try and get a photo of the small blue butterflies - they sound lovely.

I don't like moths but love when butterflies are in the garden.

Nariz, I had a trip to the Pyrenees several years ago and remember lots of blue butterflies in the high meadows. Lots of wild flowers too.
Evy I dont like moths either, their flight is too frantic for me.

Not seen these before

I'll try a photo Evy, but the results may be disappointing as my camera is a bit out-dated now (only 8 pixels!) and close-ups can be fuzzy. Keep watching!

Thanks for showing a photo of the butterfly, I'll be looking out for it - the more the merrier I say :-)

We havnt seen any for a few days now so I expect you will see them as they head north Dawnsaunt

there already up North ,I had one in the garden yesterday only one mind

Hi Mageth, my husband saw one yesterday :-))))
So exciting, pity we have all this heavy rain now though.

Oh its got cold down here too Dawnsaunt, and havnt seen any butterflies for two or three days. I checked the butterfly web site and they have been spotted right up in the north. Maybe because we live so close to the coast we had so many of them in the garden. Looking forward to seeing the other regulars

I saw recently that the large tortoiseshell is back as well,haven't seen one yet though ! You may get those 1st Mageth.

oh i hope so

Hi Mageth, lets hope when the weather improves we get lots and lots :-))) I have lots of stinging nettles just for them :))

Thats very generous of you Dawnsaunt. LOL

I put the wildlife first Mageth and having lots of weeds around for the wildlife is also a good excuse for me not to be neat and tidy, ha ha

Have left clumps of nettles at the back of my borders out of sight for the butterflies and have buddlia and other inviting plants for them to enjoy ! They are such a delight ; ) Wish I saw more of them than I do in my part of the South East.

Hi M. it will be inteesting to see how many we get this year. I can never keep on top of the weeds so there is bound to be something for them!