Monday, August 11, 2008

Nature Study

Aside


A match made in Heaven? Obelisks and rampant sweet pea. Below is a creature I have just found under the dining room table. Is it a moth or a butterfly? Inadvertantly I left the dining room window open all night; the middle one is too close but nearer to the colour.



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18 comments:

Dr Maroon said...

Sweet peas! How fashions change. EVERYONE used to have sweet peas in the garden. I haven't seen them for ages. I think they are a sign of Britain at peace.

Top notch girl winning that gold on the bike. I believe there are more cycling golds to come for us yet.

Unknown said...

I'd need to see the topside to be sure, but I think it's a small tortoise-shell butterfly.

kenju said...

That butterfly is gorgeous and I'd like to see the top, too!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I thgink it is a moth...! I had a moth last year the looked like a moth and then got a lot more colors on it and then, went away....This looks quite similar. Whatever he is, he is quite Beautiful!

Pat said...

Doccie: we can hope:)

John.g: I'm not sure what you mean by topside. Is that the other side - because no way am I going to touch it. MTL has been instructed to deal with it. It isn't really small - about 3" wingspan. Didn't know you were a Nature boy.

Judy: see note above

Naomi: the colouring is very delicate which is quite moth like.

Annie Wan said...

it's beautiful but looks lifeless alas

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Leave the windows open some more. Maybe next time they'll die right side up.

Pat said...

Ah thanks Hoss - you've solved my problem.

Mei del: It hasn't moved since I spotted it 6 hours ago. I hope it had a good life.

Shane said...

It's a fruit bat. No doubt about it.

Pat said...

Shane: har har you can't get me like that- I saw fruit bats in Australia.

rashbre said...

fritillary of some kind?

apprentice said...

It looks a bit mothy to me too. This is great site for identification of moths http://ukmoths.org.uk/

The sweet peas look lovely. I hope the spell of bad weather/gales we're due doest wreck them.

Pat said...

anna: thanks for that. The first one I looked at looked similar
Diasemia reticularis.

If my obelisk-supported sweet peas blow down - I shall have a hissy fit.

Kim Ayres said...

I was visiting a friend recently who had sweet peas on the table in a vase. I'd forgotten just how wonderful they smell.

As for the winged creature, all I can say is it doesn't look much like a seagull

Eryl Shields said...

I love sweet-peas, every year I mean to get some seed and every year I don't get round to it.

Pat said...

Rashbre: I think we've settled for moth.

Kim: seagulls are persona non grata in this neck of the woods. Sweet peas smell divine.

Erryl: I have grown then from seed in the past but this year bought three plants and asked Karen to plant them under the Stellata magnolia and most days I can cut enough for a small vase. Y'know what? I need more obelisks.

Dr Maroon said...

NO!, we're not settling for "moth".
I agree it might be a tortoise shell, but there's no point in asking, if you are going to be satisfied with "moth" might as well say insect or winged thing.
sheesh.

Pat said...

Doccie: sorrrrreeeeee!




(Grumpy!)