Sunday safari

Enchanters Nightshade is planted beneath the Hawthorn tree.   She is a food source of the Elephant Hawk moth.   I have seen her feeding on the honeysuckle at dusk. Perhaps one day she will lay her eggs here.

 Rosa 'Wedding Day' has reached the top of the Hawthorn.     Her highly scented, single blooms will make many a bee happy.

 As I small child I had an affinity with the bumble bee.   I believe it was the drone and the sweet nature of the creature that captivated me.     Our bees are in decline and need us to give them a helping hand.      When I moved to the farmhouse I rarely saw a bee.    

 Over the years, adding more pollen and nectar rich plants, I have seen the changes.    The humble bumble does well here.    They nest in the garden,  I always mark them, to remind me where 'the place they call home' is.

 Last year a leaf cutter bee made her nest in a half buried pot, amongst creeping thyme.   How clever was mother bee.    Despite the weeks of heavy rain, her babies survived.   Protected by the pot, they have left their nest and are doing well in the garden.

 Bless the bees :)

 There is much beauty in a garden, even snails have their place here.    Yesterday a solitary bee was feeding....one I have not seen before.   I did not manage to get an image, as she rushed from flower to flower.    I did some research, she lays her eggs in empty snail shells and seals them with rabbits droppings.    Hmmmm, can't believe I am going to say this but I am now seeing rabbits in a different light :)

And finally, to end on a sweet note....a butterfly, one butterfly.    I beamed from ear to ear yesterday when the Small Skipper arrived in the garden.   She lays her eggs on grasses.......
This has been a difficult year for butterflies.   Hopefully July and August will be warm months and give them a fighting chance.   I do hope so.

Happy Sunday safari