This year, to give the butterflies a much-needed helping hand through the rain-soaked, wind-lashed 'barbecue summer' (as the Met Office whimsically designated it), I've let the Buddleia bush grow and grow, until now it's up almost to roof level and out across the notorious stable door, via which (readers with long memories might recall) burglars forced entry the winter before last and discerningly stole my laptop and digital camera. All this Buddleia so near the house can have pleasantly surprising results. This morning, groping blearily for the kettle, I was startled by something dark and panicked fluttering around by the kitchen window. It was, I realised with delight when it settled - a Peacock butterfly, which must have flown in through the stable door the previous day and roosted inside. I rescued it with a cereal bowl and a sheet of paper and returned it to the Buddleia, where it is still feeding, obligingly posed for the camera - but, alas, the battery is flat on my (replacement - and higher spec - thanks, burglars!) digital camera, so that's someone else's photo up there, and very lovely it is. For a while my Peacock was joined by a Painted Lady. This may not have turned out to be a barbecue summer, but it is certainly a Painted Lady summer. Hurrah for that!
Saturday, 18 July 2009
An Unexpected Peacock
This year, to give the butterflies a much-needed helping hand through the rain-soaked, wind-lashed 'barbecue summer' (as the Met Office whimsically designated it), I've let the Buddleia bush grow and grow, until now it's up almost to roof level and out across the notorious stable door, via which (readers with long memories might recall) burglars forced entry the winter before last and discerningly stole my laptop and digital camera. All this Buddleia so near the house can have pleasantly surprising results. This morning, groping blearily for the kettle, I was startled by something dark and panicked fluttering around by the kitchen window. It was, I realised with delight when it settled - a Peacock butterfly, which must have flown in through the stable door the previous day and roosted inside. I rescued it with a cereal bowl and a sheet of paper and returned it to the Buddleia, where it is still feeding, obligingly posed for the camera - but, alas, the battery is flat on my (replacement - and higher spec - thanks, burglars!) digital camera, so that's someone else's photo up there, and very lovely it is. For a while my Peacock was joined by a Painted Lady. This may not have turned out to be a barbecue summer, but it is certainly a Painted Lady summer. Hurrah for that!
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You might want to rewrite this, Nige. You're making that burglary sound rather like some kind of fiendish insurance scam to get you a higher spec camera.
ReplyDeletebee-utiful. My buddleia hasn't flowered yet. I think we are behind you guys weather-wise. BTW, we will be in Scotland in a month. What's the weather been like thereabouts? Do you know? Or Malty? I hope not to arrive in another fiendish heat wave, as we did the last time we were there.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! (And 'An Unexpected Peacock' is almost Ellisonian...:) )
ReplyDeleteOr, Uncle Dick, an invitation for said burglars to return and nab the upgrade.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Claire - that stable door now has four stout locks on it. A case of locking the stable door after the camera's bolted...
ReplyDeletePlenty of red admirals in Putney - but if you're pining for painted ladies and peacocks, may I recommend the colourful art of fashion: http://shopcurious.blogspot.com/2009/07/zandra-rhodes-and-art-of-colour.html
ReplyDeleteNo heatwave likely, Susan B - I think it's pretty grim up there for the time being. Though in a month, who knows?
ReplyDelete