I had a different blog planned for today (though it was also about this butterfly, and will follow tomorrow) but, after spending a magical hour in this wildflower meadow today, spellbound at the sight of at least twenty, probably more Painted ladies, I just had to share my enchantment with you.
Beautiful photos! The first one especially fills me with joy.
That’s wonderful to hear, Sarah. Thank you. 🙂
Lovely images once again! It’s also wonderful to see so many local wildflowers doing well on my patch in this recent heat too, along with swathes of butterflies, both up on the fells, as well as the intermediate ground between fell and enclosed farm land. Whilst on a run over the fells just a few days ago, I also noted vast swathes of Painted Ladies (several hundred) over the length of around 400 yards of an old walled-in cart track. Around ten minutes earlier (and much higher up the fell), I was lucky enough to spot quite a few Dark Green Fritillarys – the first time I’ve seen them in this particular locality.
Thank you. Sounds like you have some wonderful areas to explore around you. That number of Painted ladies must have been an amazing sight, and I’m envious of your Dark green frits as I rarely see them. 🙂
How lovely to see this spectacle. We have many (although not 20!) gatekeepers on a patch of marjoram in our garden.
Gatekeepers also seem to have had a good year, Philip, though they’re beginning to fade now in my location. 🙂
Lovely to see more than usual this year.
Yes, I agree, Shazza. It’s been a treat!
Wildflowers and butterflies, doesn’t get much better than this 😊. Lovely photos!
Thanks, Belinda. As we are now officially in drought conditions here in Wales, I didn’t expect this meadow to look so lush, and the insects were loving it. 🙂