This romneya (California poppy) caught everyone’s eye - between sun and showers - yesterday while we were out and about in Felixstowe. Its dark yellow ‘pompom’ of stamens stands proud of its six large pure white petals. #BloomScrolling#poppy#CaliforniaPoppy#GayGardener#macro#MacroPhotography
I was always expecting it - the invasion of the Small Whites, they are everywhere now, the most common butterfly (by numbers) around these parts & in other parts of the globe where they have successfully adapted to local conditions. Brassicas & other food crops (like radish, probably the Greek reference in its name ‘rapae’) beware! But the Pieris rapae does look pretty feeding on our lavender.. #butterflies#ButterflyConservation#SaveButterflies#SmallWhite#lavender#InMyGarden#GayGardener
#InMyGarden this week the rows of lavender are at their peak, overwhelming with their intense colour and scent - giving me what I know they would - the longing to be back in Provence, where I once dreamt I might settle.
Today there are Meadow Browns & Small Tortoiseshells flitting over them from morning till evening #lavender#butterflies#MeadowBrown#ButterflyConservation#SaveButterflies#GayGardener
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is in decline in Wales/England. Checking my daily records of sightings #InMyGarden in 2022 only one or two butterflies whereas in past years there were 12-15 when lavender in full flower. #today lavender is in full flower: only one sighting so far 😩. So no recovery prob bec again the nettles they need in nearby fields are disappearing partly due to drought. #SmallTortoiseshell #SaveButterflies#lepidoptera#macro#macrophotography#GayGardener#butterflies