Red admiral butterfly on nettle flowers, and another on a bramble.
Gatekeeper butterflies, ragwort
Ragwort plant, with one gatekeeper butterfly persistently eating. Another gatekeeper was fluttering round, trying several times to get a share. Each time it came in to land it was seen off by the incumbent.
Red, zinnias, New Place
From the ever-changing flowers on display in the gardens of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s New Place, some red zinnias.
Male marmalade hoverfly on poppy, Bantock Park
Marmalade hoverfly male visiting one of the poppies in flower in the wildflower area of Bantock Park late last month.
Bell-flowered clematis flowers
Flower bud and distinctive bell-shaped flower of a clematis in a front garden opposite one of the entrances to Bantock Park recently.
Cinnabar moth caterpillars eating groundsel
Two cinnabar moth caterpillars eating avidly at a groundsel plant. Groundsel is related to the ragworts. Like them it has noxious alkaloids to discourage predators, recycled by the moths to repel its own would-be predators.