High summer: tall grasses and tall wildflowers.

 

 I walked a couple of my favourite butterfly walks this week. A decent enough showing of common butterflies but not abundant. Hard to say whether we're having a good or bad year. 

 The dry, sunny spring into summer should have helped. Then again the parched conditions have restricted the growth of wildflowers i.e. food plants. On both these routes Brambles in flower were the main forage for pollinators.  

Mellow Mallow

 

Marbled White takes flight.

 

 Sunset on the longest day, the summer solstice, from the Weston Hills overlooking Baldock. The skies had been cloudy then cleared to reveal a fiery orb in a haze of grey and pink.

Self seeder: this single Musk Mallow in a sea of Munstead Lavender...

 The self-seeders in my front garden are always guerrilla gardening. I see Bloody Cransebill has made good its escape through the railings joining Michaelmas Daisy, Herb Robert and Red Valerian. Likewise Trailing Bellflower has trailed out into the world.