The warm sunshine we've had these last couple of days has really brought things to life in the pond. Yesterday I saw six big dragonfly larvae basking at the surface. These ones are much longer in the body than the stumpy broad-bodied chasers, and greenish in hue, so I'm guessing they're southern hawker larvae, though we have seen emperors lay eggs in our pond too. They're enormous; a good two inches in length. I couldn't resist the urge to grab the net for a closer view.
Wow, there's so much to report! With such a variety of weather; frequent showers interspersed with long periods of sunshine the garden has really bushed out. And it's full of colour now. Close to the house honesty and lilac offer their hues, the forget-me-nots are still a broad band of blue, whilst at the end of the garden garlic mustard, comfrey and cow parsley are a sea of white. Behind the willow saplings red campion which were planted last spring as tiny plugs, have burst into gorgeous sprays of pink. Even the bogbean, which we put in only a few weeks ago bears it's first flowers. On the sunnier days butterflies are now frequent visitors to the garden including orange-tips, large whites, commas and holly blues. One of the values of adding a good mix of wild plants to your garden is that they provide food for caterpillars. Garlic mustard for instance is the larval food-plant for Orange-tip butterflies. One of the joys of wildlife gardening is that you're never sure what's going to turn up next. Earlier this month I was thrilled to see a group of three buzzards circling high overhead. I was alerted to their presence by their thin , wistful calls. I know they weren't actually IN the garden, but what a wonderful sight.
Around the pond things have really begun to stir. Common newts make regular appearances, though we've yet to see a male. The big hawker dragonfly larvae are also on the move and one of these is absolutely huge! I've a feeling this will be their year to emerge. Already making that magical transformation are the damselflies and broad-bodied chaser larvae. The feeling of privilege we get from witnessing them leave their skins and unfurl their new wings never lessens. |