Country diary: An explosion of life - all on one single garden plant | Phil Gates

Crook, County Durham: Back in June we noticed our giant thistle had clusters of aphids on it. Since then, it has put on quite a showA sultry, windless afternoon and the air above the garden path is shimmering. It's too hot to do anything much during this heat, other than stand here and watch the carnage unfolding on this 7ft-tall cardoon plant.It was early June when we first noticed the small clusters of black aphids. Looking closer, we watched a long column of ants, from the nest under the paving stone, climbing the stems, tending the aphids, stroking them with their antennae and legs, encouraging them to produce drops of sweet honeydew. Continue reading...