Tattered Beyond Recognition

We enjoyed another day of pleasantly temperate weather.

Antirrhinums are blooming throughout the garden.

Clematis Marie Boisselot, now entering the third age has applied a blue rinse to her naturally white locks;

the stalwart Star of India shines less bright, yet it still graces the Gothic Arch opposite

the red and white of Super Elfin and Penny Lane living in harmony.

A white gladiolus and a red dahlia each radiate charm.

Fuchsia Night Nurse continues to soothe,

and sweet peas produce plentiful seed pods.

Bees home in on For Your Eyes Only,

and enjoy the sedum’s soft pile;

a ladybird scales the Westbrook Arbour;

Small White butterflies cling to verbena bonarensis;

and this solitary flier, tattered beyond recognition, flitted from bidens bloom to bloom

until seeking suitable camouflage, sinking onto stone below. Can anyone identify it?

While he was keeping an eye on the Head Gardener I asked Nugget if he was ready for his close up, and he cheerfully obliged.

I hope this “Where’s Nugget?” (12) will compensate for yesterday’s nigh impossible challenge.

A drowsy wood pigeon in the cypress tree,

attempting to keep an eye on us while we were enjoying our pre-dinner drinks on the patio, could barely keep it open.

We left him to it and partook of Jackie’s wholesome beef in red wine, creamy mashed potatoes, cauliflower and carrots al dente, and tender runner beans grown by the Head Gardener who had drunk her Hoegaarden outside. I drank more of the Malbec.

80 comments

  1. It looks like a beautiful first day of September in your area, Derrick and Jackie. A pleasant partly cloudy day in progress here.

    Poor butterfly! It is sad to see them tattered so.

    Little Nugget looks so cherry, as always!

  2. Your photograph of the tattered butterfly, it’s translucent shadow and the carved stonework is not only beautiful but also an artwork illuminating the fragile beauty of age – or is it just me that sees that? Nugget is very easy to find today πŸ™‚ And also looking amazingly healthy and cheerful in his closeup.

  3. I too am in the painted lady camp. It is remarkable how tattered butterflies can get and still fly.

    Nugget is developing his/her modelling skills very well. Is a professional career being contemplated?

  4. Yes, I vote Painted Lady too. We have several regulars in the front garden and they are all looking a bit tatty. I too am amazed at how much wing they can lose and still function.

  5. The drowsy wood pigeon is quite at home in your soulful garden. It seems Mr Nugget has come to realise its better to pose for a portrait than staying camouflaged in the leafy expanse undetected by a majority of followers.

  6. I always find September a sad time for our floral displays. They’re so bright and colourful throughout our summer months, cheering our days withstanding and despite some awful weather, but now a few are beginning to take on a tired and jaded appearance.

    I think your beauties might last a little longer than mine.

  7. I think that ladybird is going to give little Nugget a run for his money when it comes to catching insects in your garden!!! πŸ˜‰

    He is much easier to spot today and seems even more handsome for it in his close-up! πŸ™‚

    I have to say, i’m very impressed by the quality of the focus on all your insects today, matched only by the sharp wit of your floral descriptions. πŸ™‚

    And Painted Lady for sure; the three large and two smaller white spots on the wingtips confirm it.

  8. September is starting off beautifully in the garden! πŸ™‚ Busy with bloomin’, buzzin’, eatin’, restin’…love all of the insects, birds, flowers! πŸ™‚
    I feel sad when life (and the weather) is harsh on those delicate winged-beauties. πŸ™ We human-beans can relate…life can beat us up at times. πŸ™
    Nugget was ready for his beautiful close-up! πŸ™‚ He brings us joy! πŸ™‚
    HUGS!!! πŸ™‚

  9. Wonderful, Derrick. Close to idyllic. Can’t help with the ID, I’m afraid. Question for you: my mother used to call antirrhinums ‘bunny-rabbits’. Was that unique, or have you come across this before? If so – any idea why? Anyone?!

  10. I was quite taken with the sedums, as well as the ladybird. Their variety is fascinating, but yours may be the brightest and clearest red I’ve seen. I gave up trying to find Nugget yesterday; I’m glad to read I wasn’t alone. But, my — what a great portrait you’ve provided of that handsome bird today!

  11. A lovely post of flowers, insects, and birds. I liked Nugget’s star turn here, and the sleepy-eyed wood pigeon. It looks like a beautiful–still late summer day– to take a nap outdoors. We had a similar day yesterday with my mom napping in a garden. πŸ™‚

  12. I love your description of “Clematis Marie Boisselot, now entering the third age has applied a blue rinse to her naturally white locks.” It’s my favorite out of the group of photos, too.

  13. Nugget is now posing for portraits! I can imagine why he has stayed in the garden, for it remains really beautiful. And that butterfly–painted lady was my guess, too, not knowing the size. If it’s smaller it could be a question mark or a fritillary–but it seems lighter than both of those. Thanks for another beautiful tour.

  14. With so much practice, you have captured excellent portraits of Nugget. I would be so pleased if I could have such a portfolio on one of my birds, but you and the robin have developed a relationship, and that makes it different. Your caption at the top “a blue rinse” is perfect. The Marie Boisselot is gorgeous.

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