David

Every summer, tens of semaphore flies assemble near the edge of the Compton Park pond. My impression is that there have been somewhat more of them around than usual this year.

Teazles when they are flowering, looking like there’s a thin layer of purple which I guess is the pollen.

Scarlet tiger moth,. seen the day after the one in yesterday’s post, but probably the same individual. Once again at rest, but this time around knee level, convenient for a nice clear view from above.

White bedstraw: it doesn’t take an expert to guess that it’s closely related to the lady’s bedstraw as featured in a post yesterday. Both were flowering at the same time earlier this month in the wetland / wildflower area around the Compton Park pond.

It seemed to me that the lady’s bedstraw was the more strongly perfumed, though that impression may have been because there was quite a bit more of it, and it was easier to get up close.

Scarlet tiger moth, at rest on one of the leaves high in a tall buddleia bush. Quite hard to see, but worth the effort, as it was showing the bright colours of its underwing, normally only glimpsed briefly as the insect flutters by while in flight.

Lady’s bedstraw. A patch of this gives of a strong sweet smell. Back in the days when straw matresses where the best that the many could hope to lie on, some of this might well be an attractive additiona ingredient.