Butterflies And Bees

[Canary42]

"Plant wild flowers and the colourful bees and butterflies will come", they said.

So I did, and they did. But while the bees flock to the flowers the only butterflies I've seen are the plain white ones which ignore the flowers and flock to my brassicas in droves, grrrrrr.

[roopower]

I think it may be a little early for peacocks, small tortoiseshell, red admiral etc because it was colder in spring. My buddleia is only just beginning to bloom so I have high hopes!

[maggiebee]

Same here canary, plenty of bees around but very few butterflies as yet.

[bhg481]

At least it shows you're not racist - complaining about too many white ones and bemoaning the lack of coloured ones.

[jourdain2]

I sympathise about the Cabbage Whites. We have small birds in squadrons (Mr. J2 feeds assiduously) so I felt OK last year and thought that the birds would eat the caterpillars. Don't fall for the 'balance of nature' stuff. They didn't, I lost all my brassicas and then someone told me that they don't like them. Back to picking them off manually. :(
Otherwise, we're short of garden butterflies too. Late, cold spring has hurt them, but we are now seeing them in the lanes and hedgerows, so keep hoping. The bees adore the lavender bushes I planted, and the herb bed is alive with them too.

[Chipchopper]

In the late afternoon - early evening, I've started to see good numbers of bees and butterflies picking up, including some marbled whites, yesterday. Unfortunately, I'm getting the cabbage whites on my brassicas too. I'll see what my high pressure hose can do later.
Apart from the bees and butterflies, I'm pretty sure I've seen a spotted fly catcher in the garden too, I just wish those birds would eat the dreaded whites! I supose it's a gam of give and take.

[Canary42]

/// I think it may be a little early for peacocks, small tortoiseshell, red admiral etc ///

Yes roo, seems like you were right. This last hot spell has brought visits to my garden from the more colourful ones. Good luck with the buddleia.