BUDDLEIA

[PLUMPUDDING]

The buddleia are flowering nicely now and there is a continuation as the ones in the more shady part of the garden start quite a bit later. The favourite plants for the butterflies at the moment are the marjoram on the rockery. There are lots of gatekeepers, a couple of wall brown, small tortoishells, red admiral, speckled wood and some nice fresh commas as well as gangs of large and small whites.

I've only seen four ladybirds all year. I don't know why there are so few this year here.

We also have two wasps nests, one in the wall near where I hang out the washing, which is quite a nuisance as they have started getting agressive and a couple hit me in the face when I was hanging the washing out last week. The other nest is under a hazel tree next to the lawn. I try to put up with them, but might have to tackle the one near my washing. They do a good job clearing the caterpillars off the brassicas, but have made a mess of the cherries this year.

[glallotments]

The wasp are a hazard when picking our plums too!