On the afternoon of this decidedly sultry summer’s day I cleared up the Head Gardener’s debris from the morning, then followed insects around with my camera.
Small White butterflies sought camouflage among Erigeron and rented verbena bonariensis accommodation from
bees and flies
which tested the strength of the Erigeron.
A bluebottle clung to hebe leaves.
This busy bee made safe landing in a bristly borage;
bidens attracted others;
further examples flitted in the Palm Bed from Rozanne geraniums to purple alliums, while in Margery’s Bed
more explored hollyhocks.
This evening we dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away’s excellent fare with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank Patrick Chodot Fleurie 2019.
Lovely photos of your many flowers and their visiting insects, Derrick. 🙂
Thanks very much, Sylvia
Great photos of your many visitors Derrick
Thank you very much, Sheree.
The garden is alive with insect life at the moment! Mine is the same in that respect. Not quite the same as your in most other respects though! 😄
Thanks very much, Sandra. The most we’ve had this year. 🙂
Gorgeous, teeming life and color. I planted some hollyhock seeds with my daughter this morning. We’re a bit late, but it’s more fun than just weeding and mulching. 🙂
It is – good luck with them, Brenda. Thanks very much.
All the power is with the seeds.
It is heartwarming to see so many bees. They have been rather scarce here of late.
Thanks very much, Anne. We do have a lot.
I was thinking the very same, Anne.
🙂
These pictures are incredible, Derrick! If I were a bee, I’d certainly live in your garden.
Thanks very much, Jill. I deleted the misses 🙂
Great job following the insects around! I agree with Jill. 😀
Thanks very much, Merril
It is good to see that you have got plenty of insect visitors. I get the feeling though that we are still a long way short of the numbers that we used to see.
That certainly applies to butterflies here.
Hordles survived the lockdown!
🙂 Thanks very much, Sue.
What beautiful flowers.
Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
What beautiful photos of your beautiful flowers and the flying-ones who are working so busily in your garden! 🙂
Your photos are so wonderful they should be used in a book on Entomology!!! Love the bright crisp detailed parts in contrast with the soft muted parts. 🙂
I enjoy insects. (In fact, I wrote a blog about insects today.) But, I hope the bees will say in Margery’s bed and not find their way into my bed! 😮 HA!!! 😀
(((HUGS))) and only friendly bugs!!! 🙂
I look forward to reading yours, Carolyn. I’m pleased you liked the textures. Thanks very much. X
Not easy but you managed to get some awesome shots 📸📸 Gorgeous!
Thanks very much, Ribana.
A lovely series, Derrick! I especially loved that two photo bee coming for landing in the borage. Good catch!
Thanks very much, Lavinia. It took more patience than I usually have 🙂
Yeah… “From little things, big things grow” … I’ve not sent you this important music/video before… This is a good time Derrick…..
https://youtu.be/y4ilmKD85TQ
What a wonderful story – yet so sad it had to be told. As you say, this is a good time, Ivor. Thanks very much.
I’m pleased you enjoyed the the story/song.. It was piece of Australian History, and Paul Kelly’s song is now an Australian iconic tune..
I’ll bet it is. Jackie, who was listening, too, now has it as an ear worm.
There’s another longer version on YouTube.. Paul Kelly and Missy Higgins, I thoroughly recommend it you
I look forward to watching it later.
Enjoy, it’s a heart warming piece, when I get home from the pub I’ll send you the link.. 🔗😊
Hi Derrick, I’m back home, here’s the link for you and Jackie… enjoy.. 😀
https://youtu.be/hzT-ccVov4w
We will. Thanks a lot.
I would like to have been a fly on the wall (so to speak) watching you follow the insects around the garden with your camera. The first white butterfly photo is my favorite. It seems to be on a stalk like the flowers.
Thanks very much, Liz. I was pleased to catch the camouflage.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
You have been busy as a bee in capturing the bees and other beings on wings. Bees riding the symmetrical purple alliums make for pretty pictures.
Thanks very much, Uma. Those purple alliums are definitely the favourite ride at the moment.
Thank you for this fascinating look into the world of little creeping, buzzing, flying things we often try to avoid.
Thanks very much, JoAnna.
Nabokov would’ve loved your garden with all these different butterflies fleeting around, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Dolly. A neat reference
My pleasure, Derrick. I couldn’t help but think about Nabokov, looking at butterflies.
🙂
I was fascinated with your photos of flying wee creatures. How important at the moment are Bees and you certainly have a lot of busy ones. We are in the winter weeding cycle at the moment. Drives me crazy but necessary to get ready for Spring.
We are lucky – our weeds don’t grow in winter. Thanks very much, Gay. May you be spared the virus.
Lots of buzzing and blooming. Love it!
Thanks very much, Laurie.
So beautifully flowers and butterflies. Ma sha Allah
Thank you very much, Muntazir
Your very own Bug Hunt! I’m not surprised they like your garden they must be having a ball. 🙂
https://youtu.be/utWrIWq2_tk
I love Burl Ives. Thanks very much, Sue.
Our childhood!
🙂
Great shots. I admire your patience.
I do appreciate that, Andrew. Thanks a lot.
Kijk, daar hebben we Andrew ook, hij was in de woestijn van Las Vegas met zijn atoombommen, dat was wel even een ander verhaal …
Als 49ste reactie, word er helemaal enthousiast van, zo hard als het bij Derrick gaat … Prachtig!
Zijn geduld is niet alleen geweldig, maar mijn camera kan dat ook, alleen ben ik er te stom voor … Zelfs voor een cursus fotografie is mijn IQ te laag … De ellende! Ik zie het al helemaal voor me: Laat mij lekker typen met al me tien vingertjes …
De STOKROZEN die helemaal doorbogen van de bijen waren een genot en ik geniet van uw gastvrijheid ,,, Ja, bedankt Derrick …
Liefs uit * Amsterdam, 23 juli 2020, 10.35 uur … * Hollandse tijd … * http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com *
Thanks very much, Frieda
Lovely photography as usual.
Thanks very much, Geetha
You are very welcome Derrick 🙂
My favorite pastime..observing and photographing insects. And birds.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Judy
It’s nice to see all the flowers and the lovely insects that visit them. My garden has many fewer flowers this year, as the rabbits ate all the zinnias and dahlias as they came up. And are currently trying to eat the three zinnias I sheltered under chicken wire. Rabbits score, bees and butterflies lose…
That is a shame, Lisa. Thank you very much.
Lovely shots Derrick! What would we do without our pollinators?
Quite, Thanks a lot, Dwight.
You’re a master at close-ups, Derrick. These photos are beautiful. I love that you follow insects around with a camera. Lol. I do that too, (though my results aren’t quite as spectacular). Great post!
Thanks very much, Diana. I did have a few misses 🙂
Your garden is looking gorgeous, and attracting a variety of insects ~ love seeing the bees gathering pollen and nectar.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie X
beautiful pictures of your flowers and bees, Derrick. i don’t have much luck with bees. most if not all come out blurred.
So do a lot of mine, Lola 🙂 Thanks very much.
You had way too much fun today! Of course, I am in love with your bee photos! That one you chose to highlight on the cover photo is magnificent!! May I borrow it (giving you full credit, of course)?
Of course you may, Jan. How could I possibly deny you a bee pic 🙂 Thanks very much.
Thank YOU 😊👍🏽❤️ Please 🐝 well!
Those flowers are simply beautiful
I hope you have a great weekend
Thank you very much. You’ too, More.
Stunning colours Derrick and as always, beautiful photographs
Thank you very much, John