Gary, That is definitely a Brimstone, beautiful pics.
From the experience of two wildlife gardening people I know off and reading up on the subject, there is not much evidence around that nettles in a garden setting are beneficial to butterflies. Both grew nettles in their garden but gave up as they never saw any caterpillars on them.
lovely pics gary.. i saw a couple of red admirals today on teh cycle path.. beautiful.. my buddlehias have been brimming with brown butterflies with yellow dots.. they all seem to be coming out in this warm weather..
were supposed to get rain today but none as of yet.. maybe at weekend.. need to plant some autumn plants and the ground is so hard.
lovely pics of the butterflies and bumbly!! thanks for identifying the Comma's that have been flitting round my garden the last couple of weeks too, (I'm in NE Scotland). Also nearly stabbed 2 frogs at the weekend , getting rid of some untidy wild flowers / scruffy grass. Don't freak, there are plenty other wild areas in my garden, including 2 stretches of garden measuring some 40' long each, containing long grass, thistles and anything else that wants to grow there!! I moved one of the frogs to under my rhubarb which is still growing wildly, it's nice and moist and cool under there so figured he'd like it, the other one legged it into the remaining long grass, so I left him to it. All the more reason to get a wriggle on with my pond project !!!
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@Robot - Amazing pictures!
A few insect snaps, all taken yesterday afternoon, mostly on the same buddlea bush...
Peacock butterflies...
Red admiral...
Comma...
Those 3 are all butterflies that require stinging nettles. I've been looking to see if I could find any caterpillars, but no luck.
Brimstone(?), (definitely has lime green wings, so it's not cabbage white)...
Bee enjoying chocolate scented cosmos...
I've no idea whether the smell of the flowers affects the flavour of the honey.
Gary, That is definitely a Brimstone, beautiful pics.
From the experience of two wildlife gardening people I know off and reading up on the subject, there is not much evidence around that nettles in a garden setting are beneficial to butterflies. Both grew nettles in their garden but gave up as they never saw any caterpillars on them.
lovely pics gary.. i saw a couple of red admirals today on teh cycle path.. beautiful.. my buddlehias have been brimming with brown butterflies with yellow dots.. they all seem to be coming out in this warm weather..
were supposed to get rain today but none as of yet.. maybe at weekend.. need to plant some autumn plants and the ground is so hard.
Heres a photo of one of many hoggy visitors to my garden.
One of my pond area residents. Apologies for picture quality but used my camera phone
That's the first frog photo that anyone's posted. Well done.
lovely pics of the butterflies and bumbly!! thanks for identifying the Comma's that have been flitting round my garden the last couple of weeks too, (I'm in NE Scotland). Also nearly stabbed 2 frogs at the weekend
, getting rid of some untidy wild flowers / scruffy grass. Don't freak, there are plenty other wild areas in my garden, including 2 stretches of garden measuring some 40' long each, containing long grass, thistles and anything else that wants to grow there!! I moved one of the frogs to under my rhubarb which is still growing wildly, it's nice and moist and cool under there so figured he'd like it, the other one legged it into the remaining long grass, so I left him to it. All the more reason to get a wriggle on with my pond project !!! 
great pictures everyone.. i got this picture of a bee yesterday as osbourne house gardens.
and this peacock butterfly who moved as as i took it..
and some bees having a feast...