pond – Bee in the Moment

Latest on the Allotment

Posted on 30/07/202418/08/2024 by BITM

After a slow start, due to the weather, things are growing nicely on the organic, no dig, wildlife friendly allotment.

The view of the allotment from the Buddleia shrub.

The view of the allotment from the apple tree.

While most of the soft fruit season has come to an end (apart from the autumn raspberries), the plums and apples continue to develop and are something to look forward to later in the season.

Thankfully the rhubarb has recovered a bit after a disappointing harvest. Rhubarb doesn’t like growing in waterlogged soil and although we have sandy free draining soil, I think it ended up being too wet over the winter. The rhubarb was on the plot when we took it over four years ago and had grown very large. Every five years Rhubarb can be divided when the growth has become weaker or leaves are overcrowded so I will do this around November and hopefully this will invigorate its growth next year.

The vegetables remain on a three yearly rotation to maintain soil health and keep viruses at bay. Main crop potatoes, kale (Cottagers and Cavolo Nero), beetroot, radishes and courgettes are doing well as usual. This years addition are carrots. I always like to try something different each year and It’s been a while since I tried growing these; so far they are surviving. They are in a raised bed and were sown later and sparsely to help avoid detection by carrot fly (Psila rosae). They are also in a mixed raised bed which also helps.

Along with covering vulnerable plants and growing sacrificial plants such as nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and marigolds (Tagetes), I intersperse herbs and other flowers in between the vegetables to help prevent too much loss from pests. I usually find beneficial insects soon appear when needed; there are lots of ladybirds on the plot at the moment. I also find the best way to deal with slugs and snails is to collect them and place them elsewhere; plus any plants with soft young growth are protected by copper tape on old pots and thorny material. I do allow some slugs to remain on the allotment however. The Leopard slug (Limax maximus) is one beneficial slug to have in a garden as they don’t eat living plant matter. They are great for the compost and also eat the eggs of other slugs.

Thorny material protecting new growth from slug and snail damage. Also a plastic bottle (with the bottom cut off) to allow water to be directed to the roots.

Copper tape around an old pot (with the bottom cut off) used as a guard around the base of an annual while it establishes itself.

We have a lot of wildlife visiting the allotment. There is often evidence of a fox (Vulpes vulpes) visitor (which we have seen on other plots). Plus we often see grasshoppers and Common blue Damselflies (Enallagma
cyathigerum) and frogs (at the moment we regularly notice one adult and one youngster hopping around). Last saturday, the sun was out and there was an abundance of bees on the Catmint (Nepeta), Red clover (Trifolium pratense), Lavender and Buddleia.

The wild area on the plot contains a bug hotel and is located near to a neighbouring pond. This is where the red clover grows.

This year, I decided to undertake the Big Butterfly Count at the allotment. The butterflies seen were;

2 Small skippers (Thymelicus sylvestris),
1 Comma (Polygonia c-album),
2 Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus),
1 Peacock (Aglais io) and 2 Large whites (Pieris brassicae)

Given the abundance of Cabbage whites (Pieris brassicae) nearby I have made sure my kale is covered up.

The perennial kale mixed in with the cut flower patch.

I find it reassuring to have seen so many butterflies and bees at the weekend, especially as overall there seems to be a reduction in numbers this year; partly due to the frequency of wet days.

I have noticed lots of moths this year too. Perhaps the most exotic looking one I have seen so far is the Scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula).

The creamy coloured spots on the top of the forewings can sometimes have a more vivid yellow tint.

The red underwings can be seen here. I also managed to capture some of the shimmering blues and greens of the forewings when the sun shone on the moth.

This moth is medium sized, at 23- 27mm (across the wings). It flies during the day and night through May and June; often noticed while resting on plants. The caterpillars of this moth feed on Comfrey (Symphytum), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Green alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens); they can be seen from August until May, overwintering into the following year. The habitats where the Scarlet tiger moth will be found are in areas of wetland, riverbanks, woodlands, gardens as well as coastal areas.

One sound and aerial display of summer which I enjoy is the return of Swifts (Apus apus). I have even been lucky enough to see them catching insects as they swoop over a pond (sometimes just skimming the water) along with another flock soaring high up the sky. I always treasure seeing these amazing birds as they are on the red list for Birds of Conservation Concern 5: (2021). A few things we can do to help them is to put up appropriate nest boxes, as well as adding swift bricks to new builds, giving them somewhere to raise their young. The RSPB also have a citizen science project where you can record their presence. Further information on how you can take part, can be found here.
Having arrived in Britain in April and May, it won’t be long before they return to Africa as they only remain here until August. Most of their time is spent on the wing, only stopping to nest in roofs especially of old buildings such as churches. If this isn’t incredible enough when feeding the young they regurgitate a bolus, (a pellet formed in the back of the birds throat) containing between three hundred to one thousand insects mixed with saliva. More information on swifts, including how to identify them can be found on the RSPB website, where you can also hear a recording of their distinctive call.

Swifts are not the only thing I have noticed around ponds lately. I recently learnt about another pond invertebrate, the Common backswimmer (Notonecta glauca). So called because they swim on their back just beneath the surface of the water. Not only do they feed on insects, but also tadpoles and small fish. They suck out the contents of their prey’s body after injecting it with toxic saliva. Found all year round they moult a few times before reaching their final length of one and half centimetres. It was quite fascinating to observe them swimming around.

Allotment, nature

Build it and They Will Come

Posted on 28/09/202328/09/2023 by BITM

August disappeared quickly and September is zooming by, even the Autumn equinox has been and gone. Apart from the heatwave a few weeks ago (with the highest temperatures of the year being reached) it is beginning to feel autumnal. Fungi has appeared, leaves have started turning, plus nights are drawing in and cooler misty mornings have returned highlighting once hidden spiders and their cobwebs.

Foraging blackberries had begun early this year but the extreme heat meant that the remaining flowers and berries dried up; the same is true of elderberries, although sloes, haws, rosehips and rowan berries are abundant. Unlike last year, apple and pear trees, that I see regularly, have struggled with the weather this year as well. Thankfully harvesting on the allotment is still going strong; potatoes, kale, beetroot, radishes, chillies, courgettes and rhubarb have been keeping us fed. The popping corn will soon be ready too. I have also been harvesting calendula, lavender and other herbs recently.

There has been a few changes on my plot. I had finally collected enough items to be able to construct ‘the bug snug’.

It is an addition to the wildlife section containing wildflowers and long grass (which also links to a pond on the adjoining plot). I know we have a couple of frogs visiting us so hopefully it encourages more to inhabit our allotment (to help keep slug and snail population down). I still hear the grasshopper when we are nearby too. There has also been evidence of a fox visitor; random toys get left near the water I leave out, along with poo on the grassy paths between plots.

Last week I also noticed that the Bee house, at the opposite end of the plot, was finally being used.

I found it hard to contain my excitement as it has been there for a few years and I was beginning to think it would never be used. There is evidence that it has been used by a Leaf-cutter bee and Mason bees too. Although it is difficult to know which ones specifically, the most commonly found in gardens are the Patchwork leaf-cutter bees (Megachile centuncularis) and Red mason bees (Osmia bicornis). As the name suggests Leaf-cutter bees used leaf particles to plug one piece of bamboo while those used by the Mason bees were plugged with soil. Each cell contains larvae as well as some pollen and nectar for the developing young. Male bees fly out before the females as they are near the entrance. The developing bees will remain there over winter and emerge as adults next spring, at the around April.

In other news… While clearing a gravel footpath of wildflowers at work, I accidentally disturbed a Devil’s coach-horse beetle (Staphylinus olens). I stopped weeding that section to enable it to hide for the rest of the day.

These beetles can raise their abdomens (resembling a scorpion), release an odour and even bite when they need to defend themselves (thankfully it didn’t feel threatened by my presence). They grow up to 2cms 8mm in length and are commonly found in gardens from April till October (when accidentally disturbed as they are active at night). The young overwinter in the soil as pupae until the following spring when they emerge as adults. The adults can fly but usually quickly run away from danger or to catch prey eating larvae, insects, spiders and slugs.

The Big butterfly count results came out this month. The long term trend of many species of butterfly and daytime flying moths recorded continue to fall, although the numbers were the highest since 2022 (with an average of 12 butterflies being spotted compared to 9 back then). The most commonly recorded were Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), Small and Large whites (Pieris rapae and Pieris brassicae) as well as Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus). While those which are in significant decline are Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus), Common blue (Polyommatus icarus) and Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria). Over the last few days I have seen several Red admirals and even one Speckled wood making the most of the Autumn sun.

Upon visiting the Chiltern Open Air museum on the last bank holiday weekend, we walked through the meadow and woodland that is there. In the woodland, a couple of Silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia) butterflies fluttered in amongst the brambles (the flowers of which give nectar for these fritillaries along with thistle blooms.

There were lots of Dog violets (Viola riviniana) on the woodland floor too, which is the food source for their caterpillars. The wingspan of this butterfly is between 7.2cms and 7cms 6mm. They are found in most areas of the UK (apart from Scotland) and often in oak woodland.

The meadow was full of wildflowers, but it was particularly lovely to see
Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) and Wild basil (Clinopodium vulgare) amongst them.

The delicate looking Harebells bloom from late summer into autumn. They can be used as an indicator of dry nutrient poor chalky limestone soil which they require to thrive. Along with dry undisturbed grassland and heathland Harebells will flower in walls, cliffs and even on sand dunes.

Wild basil is a mound forming perennial which also likes the same soil conditions as the Harebell. This wildflower can be seen blooming in July, August and September.

It was lovely to see Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) growing in the wild too; found in a few areas including near the iron age roundhouse located on the museum grounds.

It starts flowering in July through to October. While used as an insect repellent to keep ants and flies away, some insects, especially the Tansy beetle (Chrysolina graminis) are resistant to the toxins produced by the plant. Tansy beetles are endangered in the UK; only found in two places in York along the River Ouse and in Cambridgeshire at the Woodwalton Fen nature reserve. We are at risk of losing this once common beetle due to habitat loss (wetlands), where their entire lifecycle occurs, and loss of suitable food source (mainly Tansy); however in the Fens its been seen eating Water mint (Mentha aquatica) and Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) too. It’s conservation status is known to be Nationally Scarce and is a
UK BAP priority species that is
Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. More can be found on this beautiful beetle on the Buglife website (see web pages below), including how to help with its conservation.

The Tansy beetle

Tansy beetle conservation

Allotment, nature

Where Did May and June Go?

Posted on 19/07/202319/07/2023 by BITM

Time has flown since my last post. The allotment has kept my partner and I busy; It’s in full swing after a slow start, due to initial cold weather followed on by a hot dry spell. Soft fruit production has been good this year; Red and White currants, Strawberries as well as Gooseberries have been plentiful, plus the Rhubarb has been as reliable as always. Thankfully we have now had a fair bit of rain (along with thunder storms) here in the south, giving us a slight break in having to manually water. Plus the rain has finally encouraged the Popping corn, Courgettes, Radishes and Beetroot plants to flourish.

The Summer Solstice passed a while ago now and although the nights are noticeably beginning to lengthen once again, traditionally the hottest days are still to come (even though June 2023 was the hottest on record here in the UK).

Since the beginning of May all three St Albans Abbey Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) chicks fledged (there was one female and two male); It was so lovely to see them all successfully develop into juveniles.

Initially I was beginning to think that l wouldn’t see many insects, however they have started to show up now. Ladybirds (including young ladybirds), bees, butterflies and moths are becoming more noticeable (great news as the Big Butterfly Count started on 14th July and runs until the 6th August).

Over the last few months, I noticed the first Silver Y moth (Autographa gamma), Hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria), False oil beetles (Oedemera nobilis) Red soldier beetles (Rhagonycha fulva), Ringlet butterfly (Aphantopus hyperantus), Small skipper butterflies (Thymelicus sylvestris), Hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), along with a grasshopper of the season.

Other insects I have seen include a
-Yellow shell moth (Camptogramma bilineata) so named because the wing patterns are said to look like the edges of some shells.

Yellow shell moth resting in a Yew hedge.

I saw this night flying moth as it sought shelter during the day. The caterpillars have a varied diet ranging from Bedstraw (Galium), Chickweed (Stellaria media), Docks (Rumex), Sorrels (Oxalis) to Dandelions (Taraxacum); wild flowers often seen as weeds. Seen on the wing from June to August, these moths are often found in urban areas, gardens, hedgerows and meadows throughout Britain.

– and a Broad-bodied chaser (Libellula depressa) dragonfly;

The female is disguinuishable from the male because it’s abdomen is golden brown with light markings each side. I had previously observed a female laying eggs in the freshly rejuvenated garden pond before seeing the male. These dragonflies are 39- 48mm long and seen from May to August in central and southern England as well as south Wales. Broad-bodied chasers are one of the first to visit and lay eggs in newly created ponds.

I have also learnt more wild flowers during my walks or at work. These are;

– Black medick (Medicago lupulina)

This wildflower is a lugume and therefore fixes nitrogen in the soil. Similar to true clovers, it is found on grassland and in lawns. The seedpod is black in colour, hence it’s common name. They are a great nectar source for bees, flowering between April and August. This plant is traditionally used as fodder for grazing livestock.

– Common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)

Standing at 1.5 meters high this plant is also known as Church steeples because of the flower head spikes. In the Victorian language of flowers it represented gratitude and thankfulness. In folklore Agrimony was believed to ward off witchcraft and help the injured recover from musket wounds. It was also used to aid sleep if placed beneth a persons head, only for them to awaken once the flower was removed. Common agrimony is found in meadows and often visted by bees and hoverflies. It is also eaten by Grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) caterpillars. More information on this increasingly rare butterfly can be found here.

– St johns wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Often found in wasteland but also in open areas of woodlands or along hedges and roads, it flowers from June through to September. This plant is strongly associated with the feast of St John the Baptist (hence the common name) which is observed on the 24th June, a few days after the Midsummer solstice. Both the red juice from the stem (representing blood) and the time it starts flowering were seen as associated with St John the Baptist. This wildflower is a traditional remedy for wounds and burns and also known for aiding mild depression.

– Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

This plant grows up to 2m high and has grey wooly foliage. It blooms in June, July and August, found along wasteland, verges, along roads and sometimes popping up in gardens. This plant is eaten by the mullein moth caterpillar. More information on Mullein moths (Cucullia verbasci) can be found on the Butterfly Conservation website.

– and Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

This wildflower grows up to 1.3m high and blooms in late summer. The flowers are reddish brown developing from white buds. Mugwort is often found growing by roads on verges as well as amongst fields and wasteland.

Scientifically named Artemisia after the Greek goddess Artemis and Vulgaris meaning common. Partly due to it’s silvery appearance when light shines on the foliage it is connected to the moon and dreams.

Etymologically the common name is fascinating. Mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, the spelling was Mucgwyrt. Giving some idea to the origin of the common name being linked to old English words for midge ‘mycg’ and root, herb or plant ‘wort’. Traditionally this plant was used as a deterrent for midges and moths. It was used as flavouring for food and before hops to flavour beer, Plus it was used medicinally and had spiritual significance. Mugwort is also linked to St John the Baptist as it was believed that he wore a girdle of it for protection while he was in the wilderness (possibly why placing it over doorways was believed to give protection too) therefore another name for this plant is St John’s plant. It was also used by Roman soldiers; placing it in their footwear was thought to ward off fatigue.

Allotment, nature

Time to Make Daisy Chains?

Posted on 11/06/202111/06/2021 by BITM

It was encouraging to witness dragonflies zipping about and mating over the past week; another sure sign of summers arrival for me.

Down at the allotment, it’s been wonderful to see the addition of a pond on a neighbouring plot. I’m excited to see what inhabits it; hopefully some beneficial wildlife will find it soon, perhaps some dragonflies of our own.

The predominant flowers on on recently mown grass are still daisies (Bellis perennis) although White clover (Trifolium repens) and Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) have begun to bloom alongside them.

My White clover and Bird’s-foot trefoil seedlings, down at the allotment, are coming along fantastically; I look forward to eventually transplanting them to my wild flower patch. Unfortunately, the Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seeds didn’t take. Perhaps the weather earlier on in the year wasn’t conducive to their germination so I’ll try to obtain plants in autumn instead. Ideally I need them to control the grass so the other wild flowers have a chance to thrive.

I love seeing daisies everywhere. I love their simplicity, abundance, cheerful yellow center along with the fact they open during the day and close at night. Seeing them always brings back memories of making daisy chains as a child, which makes me smile. When I doodle flowers, it’s the daisy shape I always begin with before venturing onto others such as dandelions and foxgloves.

I even mend clothes with daisies after the inevitable holes in my work tops appear, mostly thanks to roses.

Therefore, I also enjoy seeing Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) join in the grassland mix as well which they did last week. When the grass on the verges is left to grow long for pollinators, it is these taller daisy flowers that can be seen looking upwards towards the sun.

Other tall wildflowers that began to bloom in the unmown grass last week were Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Common mallow (Malva sylvestris) and White campion (Silene latifolia). These plants are also great for pollinators, especially the latter whose might time scent is a temptation for moths. In fact this flower was added into Elizabethan pot pourri due to its clove aroma.

Allotment, nature

Finally, a Flash of Blue

Posted on 30/05/202130/05/2021 by BITM

For a few weeks, I have been wondering if I would notice any Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterflies this year. However, the week beginning 17th May I was finally rewarded with the sighting of a male (deduced from a lack of dark edges on the wings) making the most of a brief spell of dry sunny weather. As so often with butterflies, it didn’t remain still long enough for me to photograph it.

From one year to the next, Holly blue numbers can vary significantly. This rise and fall in numbers is mostly due to the parasitic Ichneumon wasp, which feeds solely on the larvae of this butterfly. When this wasp has a successful year then Holly blue numbers fall. Consequently the reverse is also true because without adequate Holly blue larvae numbers of the wasp decrease, thus enabling Holly blue butterfly numbers to increase once again. Perhaps this explains why I haven’t seen many Holly blue Butterflies as usual this year; however other factors could be the weather (so far this May has been colder and damper than usual), or maybe I simply haven’t noticed them flying around.

This male butterfly will have been part of the Spring generation (adults which fly from March to May); however there is also a summer generation that I may have more opportunity to witness, later in the year.

As a caterpillar, the spring generation will have been feeding upon Holly (Ilex aquifolium); preferably the buds, berries and terminal leaves of female plants.

The caterpillars of the second generation of butterflies seen flying around between July and September mostly feed in Ivy (Hedera helix); although they will also feed on other plants such as bramble (Rubus fruticosus) Gorse (Ulex spp.), Dogwoods (Cornus spp.) and also Snowberries (Symphoricarpos spp).

Things are moving along at pace at the allotment as well. There are lots of seedlings on the go, fruit is developing and the potatoes are showing growth. The Rhubarb has been harvested for a while now too.

New tenants have taken over plots at the bottom and to the left of our plot. Our new neighbours having made such a headway already means that we no longer have long grass on these two sides. While it is lovely to see the plots being productive at long last, it is a little sad to think we won’t hear grasshoppers during the summer like we did last year.

The removal of the lush grass may explain why we found two frogs (Rana temporaria) on our plot last weekend. They seemed to be seeking refuge on the tiny patch of grass I purposely left for wildflowers. Thankfully for them the predominant thing growing there is still grass highlighted with a few dandelions. As I want to reduce the slug and snail population on our plot, I am happy to encourage these frogs by giving them a home amongst the long grass. Instead, I may move the wild flower area nearer to the shed.

nature

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Posted on 11/11/202011/11/2020 by BITM

This years fireworks have been matched by the incredibly vivid colours on deciduous trees. Due to the weather in 2020, nature has put on a spectacular display in the UK.

We had quite a few cold and frosty mornings last week. I like waking up to them because it means the sun will shine in a clear sky.

Last Thursday, was one such morning. At one job, leaves had to be cleared near an old swimming pool, which has become a natural pond over years of neglect and a wildlife haven throughout the year. I was conscious of needing to be careful when undertaking this task, due to possible wildlife hiding amongst the debris. I knew there were newts in the pool during the summer and wondered if some might be keeping warm under the fallen leaves; this meant the job would take longer to complete.

Unfortunately there was a group of four in one leaf pile. I didn’t take photos as I didn’t want them to be exposed for too long. Instead I quickly relocated them to a hidden corner nearby and covered them in a thick layer if leaves so they wouldn’t be disturbed again. Consequently I was unable to identify them quickly enough.

In the UK we have three native species of Newt. (See the ARC Trust for identification)

The most likely species candidate for the ones I found is the Smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) However they could have been Palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus). Less likely was that they were Great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) as they weren’t dark or warty enough.

I often see frogs in gardens so it’s always a bonus to see other amphibians for a change. I am glad some survived through to Autumn.

The ARC trust have the Garden dragon watch where you can help with a survey, to keep track of Newts living in gardens.These wonderful creatures aren’t quite dragons but in my imagination they a mini version of a fantastic beast.

nature

An Enchanting Week

Posted on 14/07/201921/07/2019 by BITM

My interest in plants extends to herbal medicine and floral folklore. Often found in gardens, such plants are easily accessible.

I find poisonous plants fascinating too. I would like to visit the Chelsea Physics garden as well as the Alnwick Poison Garden in Northumberland. Over the past week, a few wild flowers that I have noticed blooming would probably be found in these gardens, these are;

– White bryony (Bryonia dioica) scrambling over Dogwood (Cornus). White Bryony has poisonous berries and the plant has a very strong unpleasant purgative affect. A few deaths linked to this plant have been recorded.

– Woody Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara).

Also called Bittersweet the plant would make someone incredibly ill; the berries if eaten would cause vomiting and convulsions. There have been a few deaths linked to this plant. It is from the same family as Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna, See Woodland Trust).

I saw other wildflowers blooming too such as the intriguingly named Enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana). Confusingly this flower isn’t from the nightshade family at all but is actually a Willowherb. One folkloric belief was that this plant would give protection against Elvish spells.

I also saw Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) along the verges.

I continued to see many birds and insects throughout the week. After many days since the last time, I was happy to see the juvenile Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) back in the Rowan tree (Sorbus). Also on Monday I had a Juvenile Robin (Erithacus rubecula) follow me around. Clearly the instincts for locating food near gardeners starts early.

The first moth I saw last week was an adult female Bee moth (Aphomia sociella). These moths are so called because they lay eggs in bee and wasp nests and also bee hives. Their larvae eat the comb, causing damage and are therefore a pest for beekeepers.

Other moths I saw were two Rosy tabby (Endotricha flammealis) moths

and a Dark arches (Apamea monoglypha) moth.

On Wednesday I was working near a fantastic old Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) tree. Countless Honey bees (Apis mellifera) and Marmalade hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus) were busy flying to and fro pollinating the flowers.

As the summer continues more and more butterflies become visible. I have seen lots more Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Large white butterflies (Pieris brassicae). One of them seen here on some lavender (Lavandula).

Also on Wednesday I observed two butterflies that I have never seen before, a Marbled white (Melanargia galathea) on Verbena bonariensis

and a Small skipper butterfly (Thymelicus sylvestris), also seen on the Verbena bonariensis.

Later on the same day I also saw ten Azure damselflies (Coenagrion puella) around the pond.

On Friday morning, as I was going to work, I had to usher a Common green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) outside so it could find some aphids to munch on.

Then lastly on Friday I saw a Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) on Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’.