I'd be a fool if I didn't start off with an advert of sorts: If you are within reach of Birmingham this week and not crowd-shy, then why not pop down and see us at Gardeners World Live at the NEC? The show runs from Wednesday 16 - Sunday 20 June. and we're on stand RHS4 in hall 20. We'd love to see you.
Exciting as Gardeners World Live is, it will mean four days when I don't get to go into my garden. Boo! Life's so hard!
I tried to make up for it this Saturday, because there is so much going on in the garden at the moment - so much to do and so much to see. And what I was most delighted about was the first egg laying in my new 'butterfly garden'. I call it a 'butterfly garden' but it is shorthand for what is basically designed as a nectar bar for summer and autumn garden butterflies. A 'proper' butterfly garden should seek to fulfil the entire Home Needs of butterflies (nectar plants for a full range of adults; foodplants for caterpillars; roost sites). But it at least has Ivy for Holly Blue caterpillars, Hop for Comma caterpillars, and Garlic Mustard for Green-veined Whites (and Orange-tips should they ever wander into the garden), as well as good nectar plants for common species.
Today's egg laying was by a female Green-veined White on Garlic Mustard. She poddled about, 'tasting' with her feet for succulent fresh leaves on suitable plants. But what I was really interested to see was that she moved on to lay on Dame's Violet (whose scent is just heavenly at the moment). I have had Green-veined Whites nectaring on Dame's Violet before, but not laying, and it will be interesting to see if her eggs hatch and prosper.
She also did a bit of drinking on the Dame's Violet too, for egg laying is thirsty work (photo left), and then moved on to have another sup at Red Valerian. Fingers crossed you'll be hearing more about the 'butterfly garden' as it comes into full bloom, and whether it has boosted my butterfly counts in the garden or not. Wildlife gardening - it's all about experimenting!
If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw
I’d love to here more about butterfly gardening, especially the planting. I’ve been concentrating on bee friendly flowers and habitats so far. I have been rewarded this year with hundreds (no exaggeration) of bumble bees, every bed is buzzing.
Most of the honey bees have disappeared recently but I have a feeling that has to do with all the fields of rape in the area.
Build it and they will come.