Butterflies and all kinds of everything

THIS week’s column must necessarily be discursive if I’m to mention even half the events I’ve noticed or heard of from readers.

Firstly, this is an exceptional ‘butterfly summer’ – I have not seen so many butterflies since I was a child and that was some time ago. Outstanding amongst the species are small tortoiseshells and fritillaries. On a stand of four flowering verbenas in our garden, I’ve counted eight of the first and four of the second, with numerous red admirals and peacocks, all feeding at the same time. These species are amongst the brightest and most resplendent of our native lepidoptera; they clamber over the flowers like scraps of Turkish carpet, newly woven from freshly dyed wool.

In the meadow across the stream, meadow browns rise from under one’s feet, along with silver-Y moths, a day-flying species.