My project of raising and releasing butterflies in the garden at Hidcote has reached its end now, as the summer season draws to a close. I’m perhaps somewhat disappointed that the excitement is all over, and can’t help but ponder over how ‘my’ butterflies have progressed out there in the jolly rough world of birds and other toe-rags that should frankly stick to eating seeds and slugs!
Overall I released about 19 native butterflies into the garden, including this Comma above who is seen just after emerging from pupation. It has been gloriously good fun getting up close to these beautiful chaps, and revelling in the marvel that is metamorphosis! Fortunately some good feedback has been received from visitors and staff so we will be going for this again next year over the full duration of the summer. Combining with a moth trap and nectar-rich plantings down at the Bee Garden, it should be an interesting year for influencing and recording insect activity around the garden!
7 comments:
Love that you attract butterflies to your garden. We were just discussing planting a butterfly garden ourselves! (kids and I)
a beautiful endeavour. Thanks for the inspiration and the link - I tried out the Painted Lady (migrants) but plan more natives next year. Focusing on moths though which are also in decline
Bertie's Beautiful Butterflied :)
Brilliant work releasing 19 into a garden just made for them.
Will you be doing them again next year?
er...that should read 'Bertie's Beautiful Butterflies'.
Comma's are one of my favourites as well as Orange tips, chalk hill blues, brimstones ooo and clouded yellows. I love butterflies and moths in all forms and had a charming encounter with the caterpillar of an emperor moth whilst on holiday in Dorset. It must have been wonderful to raise and release you little charges. Hooray for Hidcote!
Yay butterflies, go Bertie!!
Thanks for the comments! Prue, I am definitely doing more of this next year and looking forward to it.
Laura at PatioPatch has an excellent post on her Painted Ladies that’s well worth a read; http://patiopatch.co.uk/2011/08/travelling-lady/
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