The weather has been somewhat mad these last few weeks. Baking hot sun and meals eaten outdoors has suddenly been replaced by snow, hail and torrential rain. Quiet what all the plants think I've no idea.
The garden's started to wake up after winter and it's lovely to see new shoots appearing, blossom on the trees and splashes of colour too. Yesterday I spotted this lovely treasure which has managed to survive not only the weather, but also a very enthusiastic toddler you regularly rampages round the garden!
There's something special about snake's head fritillaries in the way that they look so fragile and delicate. We planted these as bulbs when we first moved here and we'ren't sure they had survived so I was delighted when I discovered they had. Now we just need them to get through the awful weather that seems to be forecast for the Easter weekend…
Don’t worry, they come up here every year. If they can survive here they can anywhere! We had 8 inches of snow, 60mph winds and sub zero temperatures yesterday…
I love them, but we have the Lilly Beetle and that loves (to eat) them too!
I hadnt realised what weather extremes you had in your part of the country until I started reading your blog!!!
Not an insect that I know – I will investigate further…