Cooling off

This visitor appeared when I was filling up the water butt. I've no idea how long he has been in there but the water level was so low that there was no possibility for escape. When the water neared the top I used a trowel to fish him out, fully expecting him to make a leap for freedom. Instead he sat happily on the trowel checking out the surroundings.

Red arrows

I keep seeing brief flashes of red as I am walking about. It's not that I need to get to the optician but that there are rather a lot of cinnabar moths about this month. Their scarlet and black wings mean that you might easily mistake them for butterflies. On the wing during the day they are seeking out ragwort plants on which to lay their eggs. The lottie seems to be providing a good playground.

In the back of the net!

The World cup is well and truly underway which means that the under-gardener is a little distracted from his tasks. Nevertheless I did manage to prise him away from the screen this morning for a little help around the plot. Everything was in rude health, the potatoes are flowering, the chard and lettuce are thriving and the kale I planted out (under protection) is going from strength to strength. Even the peas and red cabbage have made a surprise recovery now that they are tucked away from the pigeons under the safety of some sturdy nets.