Butterflies

[Alice]

Went to school in Oban SueA, but that was a few years ago. Gorgeous setting for a town.

[headburro]

Hi all,

A local gardener of many seasons swear by white buddleia over purple - he says that it lasts longer and always attracts more butterflies.

[Alice]

Might be right Headburro. I have several white buddlea and the butterflies are flying about my garden in gangs. Peacocks are the most common and they go about in big bunches, but we have about 8 other varieties. I think the nettles help too.

[SueA]

Alice, we visited Oban for the day & saw out first wild seal there in the harbour, it was lovely & Oban is beautiful. We passed through on our way back from a night on Seil Island in a cottage there - beautiful but a bit remote!
I've had a lot of peacock butterflies in the garden recently because my blue buddleia is enormous this year, it was only tiny last year as I grew it from a cutting I picked up where the council had strimmed the roadside plants near me.The blue one has gone over now & doesn't look like putting on anymore flowers even though I have dead-headed it & I have a tiny white buddleia in a pot with just one flower on it!

[Alice]

That tiny white buddleia will soon get bigger SueA. Next year you'll be chasing the butterflies out of your way. Was on Seil Island in January this year when having a wee family break in Melfort at a lodge at Melfort Peir and harbour. Absolutely gorgeous and just beautiful accommodation. I would highly recommend it if you fancy a break in that neck of the woods. Here's a link to their web site.www.mellowmelfort.com

[SueA]

Thanks Alice, it looks lovely but a bit expensive for me!

[JennieAtkinson]

Hello SueA, yes the whole of the west of Scotland is warmed by the gulf stream and there are little pockets of micro climate within that.

We're supposed to get that too, but its cooled down a bit before we get it!

I think we are benefitting more from Global Warming at the moment. The "hole" is supposed to be above us - or it was at one time!

[sewer rat]

Jennie
There was an item on the news this week that said that scientists now reckon that the hole in the Ozone Layer is getting smaller - maybe someone fitted a zip

[JennieAtkinson]

Shetland folk will be most disappointed!

[Alice]

The Gulf Stream

Hi Jennie, yes we certainly do get the benefit of the gulf stream here. We're at a latititude of 56 degrees North, which is the same as Moscow ! And you definately get the benefit of it. You're 60 degrees North - on a par with Greenland. If it wasn't for the gulf stream the polar bears would be raking your bins. So it's that gulf stream that keeps you all nice and cosy in Shetland.

[Wildforms]

Butterflies

Hi,
I had many emails earlier this year from people (I run an online Wildlife Gardening site) upset that there didnt appear to be many butterfles about. The weather we had early on just wasnt right for them, but most people said that they appeared when the wether improved. I have certainly seen a lot here in Dumfries and Galloway (dont tell everyone how lovely it is up here!) and there was a report in our local newspaper this week that the Small Skipper has appeared in our region as it has moved north, probably due to global warming.

[jerseybean]

We have had a lot of Hummingbird Moth sightings this year in Jersey. I had previously seen them in central France , and they really do look like humming birds. they seem to like Geraniums.

[Wildforms]

Hummingbird Hawk Moths

I used to get a lot in my garden when we lived in Herefordshire, usually on the buddliea, but havnt seen any up here in SW Scotland this summer. Does anyone know if we get them up here?