Ringlet

It was a fairly cold start to the day and a bit windy.  I decided to go out to Aylesbeare Common and see what butterflies were out there.  I planned to visit a small plantation there but decided to go via a different route.  I hadn't been for sometime and had to back track several times before I found the area.  The vegetation was looking very lush everywhere and I entered via a very overgrown small path and crossed the stile.  I was very surprised to find that a large number of trees had been felled and areas cleared.   I continued into the main area where the trees and open areas with apple mint and various grasses were growing.  This area often had a large number of butterflies but I only saw 5 Ringlets as I wandered around.  It was still very wet everywhere after yesterday's rain.  The nearby small lake often had dragonflies but I didn't see any.

I then walked back and still managed to go in the wrong direction first.  I should have bought a map with me as the one in my head isn't very accurate.

The weather was warming up as I returned and we had a warm sunny afternoon.  In the afternoon I trimmed the lavender bush on one side as the long flower stems hang over the front path and I know that when our daughter and family arrive in a few days time they will not want to walk too close to the bees.  The lavender is now hanging upside down to dry.  A visit to the dentist followed and then a bit of work on the allotment.  Some blackcurrants picked and the tops of some potatoes cut down.