??

I think this one is ' Gatekeeper ' or an alternative name of hedge brown Jacque , it,s a lovely photo ........ :o)

OMG is they rare Amy? Iv seen agood 4 @ 1 time in The Meadow Chaseing each other about:)

Iv another pic with it wings open but its not so good :(

They aren,t rare Jacque , they come from the farmlands ,hedgerows and country lanes ..they like tall vegetation and shelter , it,s most likely your nice wildlife area thats attracting them :o)

Thanx 4 that Amy :)

Lovely photo Jacque, it looks like a (Meadow Brown) Butterfly to me

yes a meadow brown........

Im well chuffed to have it in my Garden Ladies :)

This is beautiful Jacque....So colourful :-)

Hi Louis :) how r u? Im glad u liike this Pic :)

Gorgeous picture jac!

Thanx PP good 2 see u :) Hows Polly ? :)

this is a beautiful pic of flower and butterfly alike. It must have taken some patient to take this picture. Good for you!

Glad u like it LoveG :) this pic did take some getting as i had to keep very low as not to scare it away :)

Love the Bronze colouring which makes a very pleasing picture. Looking in my book it definitely looks like a Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonis) The underwing markings are different on the Meadow Brown(Maniola jurtina)

lovely picture Jacque

Thanx Adoron/Marann :)

Hi Jacque....Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but been busy lately. When I get a spare moment, I try to do some bits around the garden, ready for my open garden. I hope you're doing well jacque....Happy Gardening :-)
Ps Will post a few more pictures in a moment...

Smashing photo Jacque...such lovely colours....:o)

Its ok Louis i know how busy us gardeners get ;) Thanx Janey :)

cool !

Nice on the echinacea and the sunflower in the back :)

Gorgeous colours...well done Jacque

WHen I here the word Gatekeeper it always reminds me of someone from the olden days who opened and closed the gates for the big estates where the horse drawn vehicles used to enter to the mansion or manor house.

'Gate' is the old Saxon word for road. The gatekeeper butterfly maps out its territory along country lanes and hedgerows so could be the original meaning was road keeper.

My last home was in a lodge house and the gatekeeper lived there and had a stone seat that was in a stone porch attached to the lodge by the door so that he could sit there waiting for the carriages to arrive and he used to open the gate at the drive for the people to go to the old house up the road. The house belonged to Mr Strutt.

I do like these cone flowers there was a feature on Gardeners World last Friday about them - I need to research if there are any dwarf varieties that would look right in our small garden

great photo, do you try showing any of your photos in a gallery Jacque?

Another great photo you have there J.

Lovely picture Jacque!

Thanx every1 for allthe great comments :)