Gift

Some rooted cuttings of Pelegonium "Morweena" from my father. What a fantastic colour and texture. Thanks Dad!

Caterpillar surprise

I went out a little while ago to tidy up some nettles in front of the garden wall before the butterflies got to them (I have some other little corners where last year I had Red Admiral and Comma caterpillars that I'm allowing to grow this year) but too late! I saw this and first I thought it was a Small Tortoiseshell but then I realised..it looks more like a Scarlet Tiger moth. The irony is that for two years running I've been out at nature reserves to find this but with no luck. I've seen it a couple of times in Newbury town centre and Oxford, but never in a non urban setting. It seems an odd place to be, I thought they liked damp places and here we on on dry hills.