July 08, 2026
Three years ago, Jan began to build a garden in our small backyard. She was constrained to using plant pots and troughs and her plan was to incorporate as many wild flowers as possible to attract insects to our urban area. In between them, she added a variety of cottage garden flowers and all her hard work paid dividends this year. Among the wildflowers she has at the moment are cornflowers, musk mallow, verbena, fox and cubs, wild wallflowers and red valerian. Interspersed with these, she has chosen petunias, impatiens, fuchsia, hydrangea and foxgloves.
For me, the bonus is that, after all Jan’s hard work, I get to relax in the cool of the evening with a gin and tonic in the wonderful world she has created.
August 27, 2026
In addition to the insects above, we have also had visits from peacock, female common blue, painted lady, skipper and small copper butterflies and a common darter.
Also seen, but not shown here, silver Y and plume moths, and a queen bee.
All photographs © Jacqui Jay Grafton.
