Garden Diary – Insects and harvests

So just like in lockdown the garden and the weather are helping to keep my sanity as I struggle doing nothing whilst my back fractures heal themselves.
Ironically I have spent rather a lot of time sitting and lying on the hammock I tripped backwards over, that put me in this situation!

As the pain has lessened and I’ve been able to concentrate again, I’ve rediscovered the joy of reading. So catching up with the last three Brunetti books by Donna Leon, I’m transported to Venice where her books are set, whilst sitting in the sunshine with bees, butterflies and mating ladybirds – finally more numerous – flying around me. Trying to pretend I’m on holiday

I have regular walks around the garden, astonished, even on a daily basis how the food harvest is coming on and how many more flowers have come out.

It may sound idyllic, which in many ways it is, but as a gardener it is highly frustrating not being able to do all the jobs I can see. Although the garden apprentice (acting head gardener) is doing rather well!

Monday 12th August 2024

Not only has the Lythrum salicaria – loosestrife in the pond been better than ever this year, but it’s been covered in bees & hoverflies too🌿🩷🐝💕🌿
#bees #magentamonday #pinkflowers #pollinator

Does anyone recognise this caterpillar 🐛?
It was on an Iris leaf in the pond 💦
@savebutterflies #Butterflies #moths #caterpillar

I found out the caterpillar was from a Bright-line brown-eye moth from the UK moths.

Tuesday 13th August 2024

5 Tomato salad waiting to be dressed 🌿🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🌿
Brandywine, Tigerella, Indigo Pear, Rosella, Sunchocola 🌿
#tomatotuesday #tomatoes #growyourown

I stood up with my phone because I saw a Red Admiral (not playing ball), & came across this Peacock sunbathing on a pink Lychnis coronaria 🦋💕🦋
So happy to finally have the butterflies back! 😊 #InsectTuesday #butterflies @savebutterflies @ukbutterflies

Water forget-me-nots 🌿💦💛💙
The pond plants have done exceptionally well this year #TuesdayBlue
#mygarden #pond #pondplants

Wednesday 14th August 2024

‘Gabriel Oak’, after it’s been open a few days 🌿💕🌿
#RoseWednesday
@DAustinRoses #roses

I caught up with the Red Admiral I was chasing (not literally) yesterday 🦋 Sunbathing on my pear leaves 🍐
#WildlifeWednesday
@savebutterflies @ukbutterflies #butterflies #insects

Thursday 15th August 2024

Bit dull here this morning, but took this in yesterday’s glorious sunshine of a begonia I’ve not grown before 🌿💕☀️💙🌿
Wishing everyone a great Thursday 😃
#flowers #Gardening

Well, the more ladybirds in the garden, the better 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞 #InsectThursday
#wildlifegarden #wildlifephotography #Wildlife

Friday 16th August 2024

I grow Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’ each year mainly for the ‘garden apprentice’, but they’re rather popular with other visitors to the garden too 🌿🐝🧡🐝🧡🐝🧡🐝🧡🌿
#FlowersOnFriday #bees #pollinators #flowers
@srkitchengarden

Oh so nearly there 😋
This is our third ‘Victoria’ plum tree, the first two died, so its last chance saloon! 🌿💕
#growyourown #gyo #plums #fruit

Next door’s beautiful fuchsia dangling over the wall 💕💜🌿
I’m getting the pleasure & so are the bees, it’s very popular 🐝🐝🐝
Hopefully attracting lots of moths too 🦋
#FlowersOnFriday #fuchsia #bees #Flowers