Hooray for nettles, thistles and docks

and because of them hooray for ever more butterflies.

This summer I have seen more butterfly species in the garden than in any previous year.  Whilst none of them are rare I am delighted by each sighting.   Counting actual butterfly numbers is not something I would attempt, save to say that my perception is that there are also more individuals as well as more species.  At times there have been lots!

From the table below it is clear that they must have the (often unpopular) wild plants such as nettles for caterpillar food in order to complete their life cycles.  I no longer allow nettles to grow in the polyculture beds – because I don’t want the grandchildren to get stung – but there are plenty in the hedge.  I do let docks grow everywhere and there are a few thistles too.

This table shows the butterflies that I have seen this year.  The new ones – for here – are painted lady, holly blue, small copper and comma.

Name and Latin name	Over wintering and larval food plant	Habitat
Orange tip Anthocharis cardamines	Pupa Crucifers	Damp meadows, woodland rides, flowery roadside verges, gardens
Red admiral Vanessa atalanta	Butterfly Nettle and hop	Flowery meadows and other flowery habitats
Small tortoiseshell Nymphalis urticae	Butterfly Nettle	Open areas often in vicinity of nettles
Peacock Nmyphalis io	Butterfly Nettle and hop	Woodland rides and glades
Painted lady Vanessa cardui	Migrant	Sunny and open with thistles
Holly blue Celastrina argiolis	Pupa Holly and ivy	Diverse habitats with larval food plants
Small white Pieris rapae	Pupa Crucifers	Open clearings, flowery meadows
Large white Pieris brassicae	Pupa Crucifers	Open clearings, flowery meadows
Small copper Iycaena phlaeas	Caterpillar Common sorrel, sheep’s sorrel, dock	Flowery pastures, heathland
Gatekeeper Maniola tithonius	Caterpillar Grasses	Hedgerows, grassy areas, woodland
Comma Nymphalis c-album	Butterfly Nettle, hops, elms, currants	Woodland rides and glades

I haven’t been taking photos much this summer so didn’t actually capture any images, so here is one from 2017:

Principle: Welcome the wild.