Garden of sunny delights comes to life

NOT TO belabour the pun but it can be said, in this summer of 2008, that the elements are an element of every conversation.

The effect on nature is often a subject I hear discussed by people concerned at the changes they see on their walks and in their gardens. They tell me there are no midges, bumblebees or butterflies about.

For what it’s worth, I can tell them that one day last week, when the sun shone for six hours non-stop, I saw 10 butterflies and a few bees. There were two peacocks, two red admirals and three silver washed fritillaries; all came and went to the buddleia bush in our garden. Later, I saw two speckled woods and a cabbage white. How extraordinary!