Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 As well as being dripping with pears this year, my tree is full of beautiful butterflies. What a bonus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 You can do them a favour and just leave one or two pears rotting in a dish or just on the ground. Had loads of butterflies in my garden too, attracted by my pears. (My pear tree was rather useless this year, dropping pears long before they were ripe.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks will do. I have to pick them up every day, as my dogs are rather partial to them. Suffice to say too many are not good for their tummies. The chooks are loving them though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Lovely My plum tree dropped all the plums early: I had to clear them up so the flock didn't over-indulge.... I didn't want them getting sour crop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 The pears are rationed for the chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 This is what I found when I got home after holiday... No edible pears, but lovely butterflies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Beautiful, do you know what type of butterfly it is. I'm not very good at identifying them. I'll look it up in my book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Ok, just looked it up. Yours is a red admiral. Mine isn't. Told you I was not good at this. Mines a large tortoiseshell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Hahaha! I also had loads of cabbage whites... So no broccoli or brussels sprouts... Btw: large tortoiseshell is called Big Fox in Holland! So beware of all those foxes feasting on your pears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 as long as they leave my chickens alone ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 But if that is in fact a large tortoiseshell, it is a great sighting! They are very rare and a few websites actually suggest it is extinct in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 I thought that when I read my book. I will see if I can get some more photos tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Here's my photo zoomed in versus the sketch in my book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 I had a rummage around the internet and I suspect it's a Comma. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonia_c-album Your butterfly has more pointed wings than a large tortoiseshell. Still a very nice butterfly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Yep. I think you're right. The only picture I had of one was with it's wings closed. Shame, it would have been nice to find something rare. Still very pretty though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 We have a buddleia in the garden and every year it is covered with butterflies! Brimstones and cabbage whites in spring, then the commas, small tortoiseshells, peacocks and painted ladies, and finally the red admirals at this time of year. So many beautiful butterflies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 My garden too Snowy; I have deliberately grown plants which attract bees and butterflies at different times of the year; the bees are currently going mad on the Tamarisk tree, which bizarrely has come into flower in the Autumn, having already bloomed in Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 visited by Red Admiral today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 So you were right after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 Well nearly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 The butterfly in the first pic is a comma. They love our golden hop - the caterpillars eat the leaves! But the crysalis is amazing - it looks like a piece of silver soldering on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I haven't seen any red admirals yet, but my pears are no where near ripe, we have had a couple of peacock butterflies in the wood sheds though. I never know if I should leave them there because they are hibernating early or if I should release them when the sun is shining which is what I did yesterday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
