Kitchen Garden Forum

Just seen a butterfly whilst out with the dog, not a red admiral [about the only one I know] but about the same size, fairly light brown.

Probably a painted lady, shallot man, on its (her?) way back to the continent. Some years painted lady butterflies arrive here from North Africa via Spain and France in their thousands in spring, breed here and their offspring make their way back in autumn. Lots of them don't succeed, of course, but as they breed continually in their homeland, the whole thing repeats itself the following year.

Amazing, isn't it?

I went down the plot this morning, and there was a Red Admiral flying around
Apart from one heavy downpour, it's been nice and sunny so far today.

That sounds lovely, a red admiral still flying, Parsons Jack. This, too, of course, might be on its way back to the continent!
No butterfly weather here - we have not been as badly affected as the poor people of Cumbria, but so far there have only been two days this November when it has not rained!

I think I found a peacock butterfly when truning over some compost. It wasn't flying anywhere though, more like doing impersonations of a headghog looking for a place to hibernate.

Monika wrote:That sounds lovely, a red admiral still flying, Parsons Jack. This, too, of course, might be on its way back to the continent!
No butterfly weather here - we have not been as badly affected as the poor people of Cumbria, but so far there have only been two days this November when it has not rained!

Hi Monika,

Yes, you could be right. My plot is only a couple of miles from Dungeness, so it's only a short flight over to the continent from there

Went for a walk on Fairlight, near Hastings today as it was a nice sunny day.
Spotted a Peacock butterfly still actively flying around. Hibernation is going to be short this year I think

We had a bumblebee buzzing about today and ladybirds on the violas. And last week a frog croaked in our garden pond.