botanics

 

25-09-23

In an attempt to wring a few more butterflies out the last of the Summer we went along to the botanics. It is a great place to visit and even if there were no butterflies there would be squirrels and autumnal stuff going on, and maybe some birds. Temperatures were still high enough to wear shorts but jackets were also required. Definitely the death throes of what has been a mixed Summer. 

Very nice to bump into Isobel. Not attending races means we see less of our running pals. Great to catch up - Isobel is thoroughly enjoying retirement. You can see from my hi-tech wet-weather camera cover (freezer bag!) it was drizzling on the way, but dried up quickly and the sun even came out.

It is quite a while since we'd been in the Botanics and I had to stop and think what time of year it was and which areas and plants to check out. Ken is excellent for that sort of thing and gives the latin names (Mahonia, Ceratostigma minus, etc.) and knows all the likely areas for end of season RAs etc. I remembered Andrew and Unda had photographed a comma on the scabiosa japonica. But rather than head towards the main prize let's check out the herbacious border first. And we'll go there via the Chinese hillside pond, because, kingfishers. Well, you never know.

There were a couple of squirrels hanging out at the Chinese pond, mugging anyone carrying squirrel food. They were quick to sidle over and in no time were taking nuts out our hands. No kingfishers and we didn't hang about waiting for them. Actually I've forgotten we saw at least one possibly 2 chasing each other on the WoL near Logie Green Rd when passing. (No photos: too distant and hidden behind foliage.) It was the first sighting in months and sort of kick started the whole kingfisher season. The last time we saw regulars there was way back in Spring and they seemed to be nest building. Then EVERYONE was stopping to watch and photograph them and they upped and left. Fingers crossed, better luck this time.

photo Mary

a solitary admiral enjoying the sunshine

On our way to the herbacious border the sun started really blasting - great timing. We seemed to have got the best part of the day. The herbacious border is next to that massive beech hedge and every year around now there are a couple of clumps of long plumed blooms that attract the butterflies more than anything else. Cimicifuga racemosa (purple torch) and Cimicifuga simplex; round the back next to the hedge. I have turned up here to find them with no butterflies on them and also absolutely hoaching with butterflies. Never sure what makes the difference. Very pleased today to find they were medium busy with about 7+ RAs on each of the three clumps. No other flowers being entertained and also no other species of butterfly. Often around now commas will appear and sit on the yellow petalled jobs next door. Sadly none here today, but we couldn't help but revel in the amount of admirals circling about and giving us plenty to point our cameras at. Every now and then one would land on us or next to us.

purple torch

photo Mary

photo Mary

Wow I really enjoyed that and tried to tear myself away before Mary got thoroughly bored and hacked off. She really enjoyed it as much as I did but was ready to leave a bit (15mins?!) before I was. It was quite tricky photo conditions with a stiff gusting breeze making everything flap back and forth, so although there were loads of butterflies to photo and the light was generally good, it was not shooting fish in a barrel. I knew I had tons of pics but I also knew there would be a high percentage of deletes and many not-quite-in-perfect-focus. I asked for another 5mins to get a few clips of video to tie together for a wee film.

Janice and Karen

Mary asked if we could visit the cafe for liquids, both collect and deliver. I initially tried to sell her the idea the scabious was on the way to the cafe but then realised I'd be limiting my stay there if Mary needed to use to the loos. We went to the cafe. There, we bumped into Karen and Janice. Karen was using a wheeled zimmer-type support. Recently she went to New York with her husband to celebrate a special birthday. Unfortunately 12minutes into her holiday a cyclist ran into her, breaking her foot in 2 or 3 places. The rest of her shortened trip was spent in hospital and hobbling about. Certainly not the celebration she anticipated, and really awful bad luck. How quickly the holiday of a lifetime can go to pieces. She returned early and is doing a pretty good job of putting a brave face on it. Karen (who attended Floras primary school same time as I did!) is not one for sitting down feeling sorry for herself, and instead using her wheels to get about and enjoy life. Good attitude!

Meanwhile we went off to check the scabious. It was a few days after A&U had posted photos of a comma here, if it was even on this patch. So I reckoned it was something of a wild goose chase. However the sun was out and that doesn't happen every day so we should be grateful and enjoy what's there. As we approached the scabious I was extremely pleased to see a couple of admirals and would you believe, there is the comma! It was still in perfect nick and hopping between the lavender coloured flowers. I asked Mary to watch out for wardens (!) and stepped out onto the dirt border to get a better angle. We took turns. Not stepping on plants or anything but possibly not obeying the strictest letter of the law if you were to get all North Korean about it. 

I felt this photo was ruined by the heavy dark splodge bottom right. Too much contrast pulling your eye towards it. So using soft large brushes in photoshop and less than 50% opacity I painted it out with a combination of lighter colours. It is not perfect but improves the photo - and since it is the only sort of painting I am doing these days, I quite enjoyed the process!

just superb!

On the walk home we saw Karen again!

Hamish the library guard-cat