Country diary: A quiet morning on the buddleja bush | Jim Perrin

Llandrindod Wells, Powys: This butterfly magnet is more popular among the bees today, though I am treated to one of my favourites - the peacockPot of tea in hand, I sidled out the front door, positioned my chair to catch the morning sun, and observed with a degree of anxiety the buddleja bush in my front garden. The buddleja is the great lepidoptera magnet in our gardens, but not this morning. The bees were busy among its complex blue blossoms, of course, but not a single butterfly was to be seen. The whole bush, like Walter de la Mare's prince in his poem by that name, "with bee-sweet voices ditties sang". But of the jiving flight of butterflies that are one of the delights of a British summer, there was no sign.Surely, on this bright warm morning, they would soon appear, all reports of their scarcity notwithstanding? A couple of late, male orange tips swirled past and paid it no attention. A larger butterfly, a ragged-winged red admiral, marched into sight and, ignoring the other flora on offer, chose instead to cling to freshly opened blooms on the second flowering of orange hawkweed. I can scarcely blame it, this hawkweed being one of my best?loved garden flowers. Continue reading...