The glorious weather is bringing a few interesting butterflies into my edge
of town garden. I now have a resident Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Holly Blue
and the usual Small Whites. Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma butterfly in my
garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

Mike Roscoe

"Mike Roscoe" wrote in message
...
. Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma butterfly in my
garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

Mike Roscoe

Must be a good year for Commas Mike, we have seen several in and around our
garden this year. Normally we might just see one.

In article ,
says...

"Mike Roscoe" wrote in message
...
. Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma butterfly in my
garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

Mike Roscoe

Must be a good year for Commas Mike, we have seen several in and around our
garden this year. Normally we might just see one.

Since someone brought up the topic....

Does anyone know what this one is.

http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby1.jpg

http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby2.jpg

There isn't anything that quite matches it in our wildlife book, but
that only has 5 pages of butterfly pics.

Warwick

Warwick pushed briefly to the front
of the queue on Tue, 15 Jul 2003 10:20:53 +0100, and nailed this to
the shed door:

^ In article ,
^ says...

^ "Mike Roscoe" wrote in message
^ ...

^ . Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
^ interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma butterfly in my
^ garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

^ Must be a good year for Commas Mike, we have seen several in and around our
^ garden this year. Normally we might just see one.

^ Since someone brought up the topic....
^ Does anyone know what this one is.
^
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby1.jpg
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby2.jpg
^
^ There isn't anything that quite matches it in our wildlife book, but
^ that only has 5 pages of butterfly pics.

Great picturs. Against all the odds, it appears to be a Comma ...

Andy
--

"No, you claim the magpie is to blame for all the
worlds ills, based on your ignorance of magpies."
(4a7391c12e538ef306d33d71c9482221@TeraNews)

In article ,
says...
Warwick pushed briefly to the front
of the queue on Tue, 15 Jul 2003 10:20:53 +0100, and nailed this to
the shed door:

^ In article ,
^ says...

^ "Mike Roscoe" wrote in message
^ ...

^ . Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
^ interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma butterfly in my
^ garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

^ Must be a good year for Commas Mike, we have seen several in and around our
^ garden this year. Normally we might just see one.

^ Since someone brought up the topic....
^ Does anyone know what this one is.
^
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby1.jpg
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby2.jpg
^
^ There isn't anything that quite matches it in our wildlife book, but
^ that only has 5 pages of butterfly pics.

Great picturs. Against all the odds, it appears to be a Comma ...

*chuckle*

Having been told that. A google with the keywords "Comma butterfly UK"
confirms it.

I don't know if there's any conservation society tracking sightings of
what appears to be a recovering population, but this one turned up in
Leicester.

As to the pictures, I tend to have the camera near to hand around the
house and garden most of the time and that Comma was courteous enough to
stay still while I crept in gradually, although it wouldn't listen to me
willing it to turn around a bit.

For a photo of wildlife complying with the 'turn around you bugger'
willpower I need to go back to March and..

http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/m...frog3small.jpg

Wariwck

We have a large Buddleia which is flowering profusely, and which doesn't
appear to attract butterflies at all. Bees love it, but since it's common
name is 'butterfly bush' - I am wondering why this is? Can anyone tell me
please?

Aileen

"Andy Spragg" wrote in message
...
Warwick pushed briefly to the front
of the queue on Tue, 15 Jul 2003 10:20:53 +0100, and nailed this to
the shed door:

^ In article ,
^ says...

^ "Mike Roscoe" wrote in message
^ ...

^ . Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
^ interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma butterfly
in my
^ garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

^ Must be a good year for Commas Mike, we have seen several in and
around our
^ garden this year. Normally we might just see one.

^ Since someone brought up the topic....
^ Does anyone know what this one is.
^
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby1.jpg
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby2.jpg
^
^ There isn't anything that quite matches it in our wildlife book, but
^ that only has 5 pages of butterfly pics.

Great picturs. Against all the odds, it appears to be a Comma ...

Andy
--

"No, you claim the magpie is to blame for all the
worlds ills, based on your ignorance of magpies."
(4a7391c12e538ef306d33d71c9482221@TeraNews)

In article , Aileen
Howard writes
"Andy Spragg" wrote in message
...
Warwick pushed briefly to the front
of the queue on Tue, 15 Jul 2003 10:20:53 +0100, and nailed this to
the shed door:
^ In article ,
^ says...
^ "Mike Roscoe" wrote in message
^ ...

^ . Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
^ interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma butterfly
in my
^ garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

^ Must be a good year for Commas Mike, we have seen several in and
around our
^ garden this year. Normally we might just see one.

^ Since someone brought up the topic....
^ Does anyone know what this one is.
^
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby1.jpg
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby2.jpg
^
^ There isn't anything that quite matches it in our wildlife book, but
^ that only has 5 pages of butterfly pics.

Great picturs. Against all the odds, it appears to be a Comma ...

We have a large Buddleia which is flowering profusely, and which doesn't
appear to attract butterflies at all. Bees love it, but since it's common
name is 'butterfly bush' - I am wondering why this is? Can anyone tell me
please?

It's called the butterfly bush because butterflies love it! However,
there are many different kinds and some seem to have more nectar that
butterflies like than others. We've got two different ones and one is
much more popular with butterflies than the other, while bees use them
both.

--
Malcolm

Thanks Malcolm, I obviously have the wrong one! Never mind, I'm happy that
it makes the bees happy.

Regards, Aileen

"Malcolm" wrote in message
...

In article , Aileen
Howard writes
"Andy Spragg" wrote in message
...
Warwick pushed briefly to the front
of the queue on Tue, 15 Jul 2003 10:20:53 +0100, and nailed this to
the shed door:
^ In article ,

^ says...
^ "Mike Roscoe" wrote in message
^ ...

^ . Today I was surprised to see a Comma taking an
^ interest in my pelargonium flowers, I haven't seen a Comma
butterfly
in my
^ garden for quite a few years, things are looking up!

^ Must be a good year for Commas Mike, we have seen several in and
around our
^ garden this year. Normally we might just see one.

^ Since someone brought up the topic....
^ Does anyone know what this one is.
^
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby1.jpg
^ http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/urg/flutterby2.jpg
^
^ There isn't anything that quite matches it in our wildlife book, but
^ that only has 5 pages of butterfly pics.

Great picturs. Against all the odds, it appears to be a Comma ...

We have a large Buddleia which is flowering profusely, and which doesn't
appear to attract butterflies at all. Bees love it, but since it's
common
name is 'butterfly bush' - I am wondering why this is? Can anyone tell
me
please?

It's called the butterfly bush because butterflies love it! However,
there are many different kinds and some seem to have more nectar that
butterflies like than others. We've got two different ones and one is
much more popular with butterflies than the other, while bees use them
both.

--
Malcolm

Malcolm pushed briefly to the front of the
queue on Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:23:45 +0100, and nailed this to the shed
door:

^ In article , Aileen
^ Howard writes

^ We have a large Buddleia which is flowering profusely, and which doesn't
^ appear to attract butterflies at all. Bees love it, but since it's common
^ name is 'butterfly bush' - I am wondering why this is? Can anyone tell me
^ please?
^
^ It's called the butterfly bush because butterflies love it! However,
^ there are many different kinds and some seem to have more nectar that
^ butterflies like than others. We've got two different ones and one is
^ much more popular with butterflies than the other, while bees use them
^ both.

I'd bet yours is the light mauvey version rather than the dark purple
version. We had one of each in our garden when I was a lad and I
always noticed that the dark purple version was much more popular.

Andy
--

"No, you claim the magpie is to blame for all the
worlds ills, based on your ignorance of magpies."
(4a7391c12e538ef306d33d71c9482221@TeraNews)

In article , Andy Spragg
writes
Malcolm pushed briefly to the front of the
queue on Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:23:45 +0100, and nailed this to the shed
door:

^ In article , Aileen
^ Howard writes

^ We have a large Buddleia which is flowering profusely, and which doesn't
^ appear to attract butterflies at all. Bees love it, but since it's common
^ name is 'butterfly bush' - I am wondering why this is? Can anyone tell me
^ please?
^
^ It's called the butterfly bush because butterflies love it! However,
^ there are many different kinds and some seem to have more nectar that
^ butterflies like than others. We've got two different ones and one is
^ much more popular with butterflies than the other, while bees use them
^ both.

I'd bet yours is the light mauvey version rather than the dark purple
version. We had one of each in our garden when I was a lad and I
always noticed that the dark purple version was much more popular.

Have you been spying on my garden??

We have one of each :-)

--
Malcolm

Actually mine is quite a deep purple:-( I'm not sad because of the colour -
it's good - but it lacks butterflies.

Regards, Aileen

"Malcolm" wrote in message
...

In article , Andy Spragg
writes
Malcolm pushed briefly to the front of the
queue on Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:23:45 +0100, and nailed this to the shed
door:

^ In article , Aileen
^ Howard writes

^ We have a large Buddleia which is flowering profusely, and which
doesn't
^ appear to attract butterflies at all. Bees love it, but since it's
common
^ name is 'butterfly bush' - I am wondering why this is? Can anyone
tell me
^ please?
^
^ It's called the butterfly bush because butterflies love it! However,
^ there are many different kinds and some seem to have more nectar that
^ butterflies like than others. We've got two different ones and one is
^ much more popular with butterflies than the other, while bees use them
^ both.

I'd bet yours is the light mauvey version rather than the dark purple
version. We had one of each in our garden when I was a lad and I
always noticed that the dark purple version was much more popular.

Have you been spying on my garden??

We have one of each :-)

--
Malcolm

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 12:02:36 +0100, "Aileen Howard" wrote:

Actually mine is quite a deep purple:-( I'm not sad because of the colour -
it's good - but it lacks butterflies.

Regards, Aileen
'Our' butterfies pefer the flowers on the prvet hedge. If you don't cut it too often (for those who
like a slightly wilder garden) it flowers well and the bee love it too.
Incidently do Small Coppers migrate? We have dozens of them in the garden but they only appeared in
the last few days.

Kath

Lee and Kath pushed briefly to the front of the
queue on Sun, 20 Jul 2003 10:51:52 +0100, and nailed this to the shed
door:

^ On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 12:02:36 +0100, "Aileen Howard" wrote:
^
^ Actually mine is quite a deep purple:-( I'm not sad because of the colour -
^ it's good - but it lacks butterflies.
^
^ Regards, Aileen
^ 'Our' butterfies pefer the flowers on the prvet hedge. If you don't cut it too often (for those who
^ like a slightly wilder garden) it flowers well and the bee love it too.
^ Incidently do Small Coppers migrate? We have dozens of them in the garden but they only appeared in
^ the last few days.

/Dozens/? Oooh, you lucky so-and-sos. I don't think I've seen that
many in my entire life - and they're one of my favourites. Tell you
what I /have/ seen just today, though - several Peacocks in the
garden. Big deal, you might say - well, yes, except they are the first
I have seen this year. And they were all rich and lustrous and
scale-perfect, so like your Small Coppers, I reckon my Peacocks must
be freshly-hatched. I wish I knew where from - I've never managed to
find Peacock caterpillars in the wild, despite over 30 years of
looking (not non-stop, you understand).

So fear not Aileen, your buddleia may yet produce the goods - it does
seem to have been a very late year for the species that really get off
on buddleia this year. And I still haven't seen a single Painted Lady
this year yet - weren't we supposed to have been inundated with them a
week or three ago?

Andy
--

"No, you claim the magpie is to blame for all the
worlds ills, based on your ignorance of magpies."
(4a7391c12e538ef306d33d71c9482221@TeraNews)

Lee and Kath pushed briefly to the front of the
queue on Sun, 20 Jul 2003 10:51:52 +0100, and nailed this to the shed
door:

^ On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 12:02:36 +0100, "Aileen Howard" wrote:
^
^ Actually mine is quite a deep purple:-( I'm not sad because of the colour -
^ it's good - but it lacks butterflies.
^
^ Regards, Aileen
^ 'Our' butterfies pefer the flowers on the prvet hedge. If you don't cut it too often (for those who
^ like a slightly wilder garden) it flowers well and the bee love it too.
^ Incidently do Small Coppers migrate? We have dozens of them in the garden but they only appeared in
^ the last few days.

/Dozens/? Oooh, you lucky so-and-sos. I don't think I've seen that
many in my entire life - and they're one of my favourites. Tell you
what I /have/ seen just today, though - several Peacocks in the
garden. Big deal, you might say - well, yes, except they are the first
I have seen this year. And they were all rich and lustrous and
scale-perfect, so like your Small Coppers, I reckon my Peacocks must
be freshly-hatched. I wish I knew where from - I've never managed to
find Peacock caterpillars in the wild, despite over 30 years of
looking (not non-stop, you understand).

So fear not Aileen, your buddleia may yet produce the goods - it does
seem to have been a very late year for the species that really get off
on buddleia this year. And I still haven't seen a single Painted Lady
this year yet - weren't we supposed to have been inundated with them a
week or three ago?

Andy
--

"No, you claim the magpie is to blame for all the
worlds ills, based on your ignorance of magpies."
(4a7391c12e538ef306d33d71c9482221@TeraNews)

Thanks to you all for the replies - I live in hope!

Regards, Aileen

"Andy Spragg" wrote in message
...
Lee and Kath pushed briefly to the front of the
queue on Sun, 20 Jul 2003 10:51:52 +0100, and nailed this to the shed
door:

^ On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 12:02:36 +0100, "Aileen Howard"
wrote:
^
^ Actually mine is quite a deep purple:-( I'm not sad because of the
colour -
^ it's good - but it lacks butterflies.
^
^ Regards, Aileen
^ 'Our' butterfies pefer the flowers on the prvet hedge. If you don't cut
it too often (for those who
^ like a slightly wilder garden) it flowers well and the bee love it too.
^ Incidently do Small Coppers migrate? We have dozens of them in the
garden but they only appeared in
^ the last few days.

/Dozens/? Oooh, you lucky so-and-sos. I don't think I've seen that
many in my entire life - and they're one of my favourites. Tell you
what I /have/ seen just today, though - several Peacocks in the
garden. Big deal, you might say - well, yes, except they are the first
I have seen this year. And they were all rich and lustrous and
scale-perfect, so like your Small Coppers, I reckon my Peacocks must
be freshly-hatched. I wish I knew where from - I've never managed to
find Peacock caterpillars in the wild, despite over 30 years of
looking (not non-stop, you understand).

So fear not Aileen, your buddleia may yet produce the goods - it does
seem to have been a very late year for the species that really get off
on buddleia this year. And I still haven't seen a single Painted Lady
this year yet - weren't we supposed to have been inundated with them a
week or three ago?

Andy
--

"No, you claim the magpie is to blame for all the
worlds ills, based on your ignorance of magpies."
(4a7391c12e538ef306d33d71c9482221@TeraNews)