Garden Carpet

Leaving the windows and doors open in warm weather inevitably invites in some of the garden wildlife. Some of it is unwelcome like the occasional wasp and the all too frequent bluebottle. Among the moths that tend to find their way indoors are two very common species - the Large Yellow Underwing and this one, the Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata).



On the wing from April to October it has two or three generations during the year. It can be found throughout the British Isles and is frequent to abundant everywhere, inhabiting a wide variety of habitats from gardens to woodland, open coastal areas to rough ground of all sorts. Its caterpillars feed on plants of the cabbage family including Shepherd's Purse, Garlic Mustard, Alyssum, and cultivated Brassicas.

Mimulus

There are a lot of different forms of Mimulus (commonly known as Musk). This one has been in one of the ponds since its creation and it loves the water round its roots. Unfortunately it reaches about two foot six tall - I’d rather have a lower one.

Insect eggs

I don’t know what insect these are but like so many insect eggs they are pretty, don’t you think?

Mock Orange

It would be nice to have a stronger sense of smell, mine has never been very good. This is Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) of which I have three in the garden A huge single one, a small double one and a middle sized one which has never flowered as yet. I can just about smell the double one but not the single one. I remember Mock Orange as having a much stronger scent when I was younger – is that old age affecting the memory or the nasal passages, I wonder.