lovely

couldn't believe the yobs trespassing in the field next to our garden at the weekend were seeing who could kill the most butterflies!

most of the year the visitors are pretty good - but summer hols brings people who just don't know how to enjoy the countryside and leave litter. (I picked up a folded up disposeable nappy the other day)

i found myself picking up litter the other day .... if I let it lie I wouldnt be able to enjoy the view, but it is very depressing...

They're lovey pics. I have had four butterflies come into the house and spend the night but I haven't been quick enough to photograph them with their wings open.

the butterflies came into our house last night too!!! they usually over-winter in the beams ( I dont dust often :-) ) but we couldnt think why they were doing it so early......
I have just checked and they are still there.....

I've never had so many in as I have this summer. The only thing I could think of was that I haven't closed the back door during the day for the whole week and maybe they are just opportunists.

poor things always wake up again when the central heating goes on.... unless they have hibernated in my studio which is freezing.....
I cant imagine that they are resting to get away from the heat, are they?

I don't know, maybe they are. I had one who spent the whole winter in my sitting room, the one we don't use. I woke it up by accident one day otherwise I never would have known.

what I need is a butterfly expert...should I move them to where I know it will stay cold...should I throw them out so that they can find somewhere safer????.... I always feel bad when they wake up in the winter ,die of cold or eaten

Ask Euphro, he's good at that sort of thing.

he really is, yes :-)

Blimey, is that last one a Red Admiral? Aren't they pretty rare now?
I didn't even realise butterflies hibernated, I thought they just died at the end of the summer or something. How long do they live?