Increase In Butterflies ?

[Chipchopper]

Up to now, the butterflies in my garden have been sadly lacking.
This morning though. on this bright sunny day, I was pleasantly surprised and counted several species on my buddleia, including : several large whites, a small white, a comma, a peacock about 3 red admirals + numerous bees and hover flies, in the space of about 5 minutes.
Hopefully they are making a comeback!

[rsvp]

I'm lucky to have a really big garden - couple of acres and bits of it are left wild - lots and lots of insect life including butterflies. Take my dog across the horse fields adjacent which haven't been sprayed with anything for years - huge amount of the purple thistles and wild flowers so again, infested (not the right word but you get my meaning) with butterflies of all colours, bees - all manner of insects. Terrific

[maggiebee]

That's a great variety you have. Butterflies have been few and far between this year in my garden. Buddleia was uprooted last year in high winds so think I'll have to plant another to see if that makes a difference.

[Peaspeculiars]

Great to hear Chipchopper :o)
We planted a Buddleia last year and have seen some wonderful butterflies this summer so far - It is literally packed full of them, so I've bought a couple of small buddleia's to plant ready for next summer as we've been so impressed with their effect. We hardly saw any at all last year and love watching them.

After 3 years, the one and only remaining Echium Pininana (the others perished in the frost) flowered and the bees went crazy for it! I'd recommend one if you like the bee's, although they do take a while to grow and are rather large! :-)

[janbee]

I have a large buddleia at the bottom of my garden and the butterflies LOVE it. I also have lavender and hebe and the bees go mad for them.

[rsvp]

Just come out of the greenhouse - (lovely ripe tomatoes that smell fabulous) but I digress.....have an earth floor and I think it's a marjoram plant has gone beserk at the far end.....2nd year it been there and it's probably 3ft/3ft6ins high, bolted into flower and it is absolutely covered in little bees - not sure what make they are but there are probably upwards of 40 to 50 on the flowers, they seem to love it.

[Chipchopper]

Rspv, I think I get your meaning, how about 'Bustling' instead of infested ?.
Hopefully the numbers will continue to improve :-)

[rsvp]

Better word CC

[JemimaQuack]

You can't beat buddleia! I planted a bee friendly border last summer, which included buddleia, and my garden has been full of butterflies and bees this summer :-D