Tortoiseshell

I have not seen many butterflies this summer but there were one or two about today in the warm sunshine, this Small Tortoiseshell nectaring hungrily on buddleia was so engrossed that I managed to get close enough with my phone camera for a half decent shot.  Ruth and I were, at this stage, on our way to Wharf for lunch.  We lingered awhile after and indulged in an ice cream as well.   

Otherwise a day of little jobs, including a fair bit of time spent on the bulb collection.  Me preparing for the marathon of repotting them and Ruth working her way through some of the pots, harvesting the bulbs.   Back in 2019 I got the bulk of the job done in two weeks while grounded after a minor operation.  This year I'll be happy if I am finished by mid September!   The next six weeks are the busiest time of the year at work, I'll be doing double what I usually do so the bulbs will get done slowly.  I'm still hoping to get to pottery occasionally but it will be a rather fallow time on that front.   Not that I am wishing summer away (has it actually arrived yet?!) but I am sort of looking forward to September.