tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post7035756996885882552..comments2024-03-20T05:26:50.167+00:00Comments on Blue Borage: A Purple Emperor, Red Admirals and Red QueensWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-46220753507807962512013-08-07T11:14:55.047+01:002013-08-07T11:14:55.047+01:00Thanks Julie. Harry can have bursts of energy, but...Thanks Julie. Harry can have bursts of energy, but I think he's generally sleeping out the hot weather.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-22445048564754569412013-08-05T22:18:07.214+01:002013-08-05T22:18:07.214+01:00Lovely butterfly photos your dog looks so layed ba...Lovely butterfly photos your dog looks so layed backJulie Hargreaveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17960929133275564117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-23547462619850423762013-08-03T20:36:15.616+01:002013-08-03T20:36:15.616+01:00Thanks Stacy. I am fascinated by butterflies, they...Thanks Stacy. I am fascinated by butterflies, they are such lovely, fragile creatures. How wonderful that you have a beautiful Swallowtail butterfly where you are; I hope one day to see the rare Swallowtail here.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-85098394203054538522013-08-03T16:15:56.756+01:002013-08-03T16:15:56.756+01:00Your butterflies are beautiful! You are lucky to ...Your butterflies are beautiful! You are lucky to have seen a few varieties. We only see the swallowtail butterfly around our home, but it is beautiful and it makes me happy.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14294624848003071390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-55738190740261240692013-08-03T11:23:34.487+01:002013-08-03T11:23:34.487+01:00Thanks Pauline. How wonderful that you have Purple...Thanks Pauline. How wonderful that you have Purple Emperors where you are. I hope you catch sight of one. I've read that the males come down to the ground mid-late morning for a while, and that is the time I saw mine. <br />The queen is longer and a different shape to the other bees, but she's the same colour - so this time of year with so many in the hive they do all blend together. Marking the queen with a red spot will make her really stand out.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-59949578929642695362013-08-03T07:49:46.660+01:002013-08-03T07:49:46.660+01:00You have plenty of wonderful butterflies, so lucky...You have plenty of wonderful butterflies, so lucky to catch the Purple Emperor! We have been told by our local "expert" that we should have them as they frequent the tops of oaks and ash and we have plenty of those, so far though - nothing! Your story of your bees is fascinating, is the queen a lot larger than the others, I've always imagined it must be very difficult to find her?Paulinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16057764572761794703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-13505018424034862182013-08-02T20:31:50.750+01:002013-08-02T20:31:50.750+01:00Thanks Janet. I do have a range of butterflies her...Thanks Janet. I do have a range of butterflies here, but of course I'm still envious of areas of the country where there are butterflies I would never see! It is ironic that a butterfly with such an imperial name should be drawn to such unpleasant stuff, isn't it? And trying to pin a queen down can be also difficult because the other bees instinctively guard her. Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-84695075631334765062013-08-02T18:49:38.403+01:002013-08-02T18:49:38.403+01:00I'm so impressed at the range of butterflies y...I'm so impressed at the range of butterflies you get Wendy, and the photos you manage to capture of them, although learning that such a beautiful butterfly has such challenging eating habits does change my view of them somewhat! Good luck chasing the queens with your red pen, sounds a dangerous endeavour.Janet/Plantaliscioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15605580157193047780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-31610446413244721872013-08-02T10:18:11.780+01:002013-08-02T10:18:11.780+01:00Thanks Leanne. I wonder what the results of the cu...Thanks Leanne. I wonder what the results of the current butterfly survey will show about the state of our butterflies. I really look forward to seeing the nationwide results. And I was about to try bee marking again today, but we have thunderstorms here and these always upset the bees' mood - so it will have to wait!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-36012119780363007702013-08-02T07:55:23.756+01:002013-08-02T07:55:23.756+01:00this is a lovely post! good luck with the bee mark...this is a lovely post! good luck with the bee marking! I havent had as many butterflies in my garden this year... thats a worry.<br /><br />Leanne xLeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09573431221299174647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-4078052968111791642013-08-01T12:12:20.825+01:002013-08-01T12:12:20.825+01:00Thanks Helen. I'm used to looking for wildlife...Thanks Helen. I'm used to looking for wildlife and then not seeing it - so I was delighted that this time it all worked out. Like most beekeepers I do want to see the queen every time I lift the roof off of the hive, and so I am keen to mark the queens asap. This year's red will really make them stand out from the other bees.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-70239147894591762572013-08-01T10:54:01.727+01:002013-08-01T10:54:01.727+01:00I know how Harry feels! So lucky to have seen a P...I know how Harry feels! So lucky to have seen a Purple Emperor, that's incredible - and to have got such a wonderful shot of it. And it was fascinating to read about marking the red queens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-88702005670654941032013-08-01T09:35:51.400+01:002013-08-01T09:35:51.400+01:00Thanks Elaine. I have the exact spot where I saw t...Thanks Elaine. I have the exact spot where I saw the Purple Emperor in mind so one day I hope to go back and see if I can catch another glimpse. If it is the 'master tree' where these butterflies gather I might be lucky again! I hope the butterflies discover your buddleia; they seem to be visiting mine in waves - there can be several there (Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, mainly)- or there are none at all. Very strange.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-6578469611112717952013-08-01T09:31:43.138+01:002013-08-01T09:31:43.138+01:00Hello Jane - and thank you. Yes, Harry is a border...Hello Jane - and thank you. Yes, Harry is a border terrier and he does have a lovely nature - we're very fortunate to have him. He's a very gentle dog. It's very hot here again today, so I expect he'll be back in the shade trying to find a breeze!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-58406378810266233542013-08-01T08:29:01.950+01:002013-08-01T08:29:01.950+01:00Oh how lovely to be able to see a Purple Emperor I...Oh how lovely to be able to see a Purple Emperor I have only seen them on natural history programmes and I realise they are hard to come across - so you must have felt blessed to be able to photograph one. Still a dearth of butterflies here sadly - although I did spot a Peacock high up on the Buddleia the other day - but it was camera-shy.elaine https://www.blogger.com/profile/17075935631756457901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-28551603549988176772013-08-01T07:23:57.683+01:002013-08-01T07:23:57.683+01:00Is Harry a border terrier? We used to have one ma...Is Harry a border terrier? We used to have one many years ago when I was little. Lovely dogs. I love your beautiful flower and bee photos! Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02476181295259115670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-90508907787830435892013-07-31T22:55:40.035+01:002013-07-31T22:55:40.035+01:00Thanks Suzie. I agree, I think we're all appre...Thanks Suzie. I agree, I think we're all appreciating the bees and butterflies this summer after last year when they were hardly around. I think that marking a queen bee takes good eye sight most of all; once she's held in a cage it's important to quickly mark her thorax, and not her head, wings or abdomen - not too easy when she wants to keep moving.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-25172226207706585832013-07-31T21:31:27.238+01:002013-07-31T21:31:27.238+01:00How amazing to see the Purple Emperor, even better...How amazing to see the Purple Emperor, even better when you made the effort to go out...and it was there. Hopefully we are all enjoying the bees and btterflies this year, it seems like we have waited a long time for weather good enough to bring them all out. The queen bee marking sounds very difficult...I'm sure my hand would be shaking too much. SeagullSuziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15857680854262709165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-5934198632575196672013-07-31T19:36:58.902+01:002013-07-31T19:36:58.902+01:00Thanks Sarah. I always find it exciting to see rar...Thanks Sarah. I always find it exciting to see rare wildlife - and the Purple Emperor is such a stunning butterfly. Lavender is such a wonderful bee and butterfly flower, isn't it? And I have lost lupins to slugs, too - the lupins that do best are the several that have self-sown.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-58871611012298877752013-07-31T19:13:35.956+01:002013-07-31T19:13:35.956+01:00Hi Wendy,
It must have been so wonderful to find t...Hi Wendy,<br />It must have been so wonderful to find the Purple Emperor and get a picture of it too! The lavender is the favourite spot for the bees and butterflies in our garden at the moment. I wish I could grow lupins we have given up with them as the slugs caused such damage.<br />Sarah xDown by the seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06148800326418238027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-2512047494525872592013-07-31T18:53:15.383+01:002013-07-31T18:53:15.383+01:00Thanks Jessica. I've loved the heat, but it ha...Thanks Jessica. I've loved the heat, but it has been a bit disruptive. I've not spent enough time gardening. I'm pleased you've enjoyed following the stories of my hives, especially as this isn't perfect beekeeping!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-35964102490712063172013-07-31T18:48:29.769+01:002013-07-31T18:48:29.769+01:00Thanks Celia. Now I'd like to see a female!Thanks Celia. Now I'd like to see a female!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-84802198338183000622013-07-31T17:33:27.103+01:002013-07-31T17:33:27.103+01:00Oh poor Harry, I know how he feels. Now it is gett...Oh poor Harry, I know how he feels. Now it is getting cooler again I feel a lot more inclined to get out and about in the garden. <br />Your description of marking the queen was fascinating. I don't think I would have time at the moment to manage a hive, but I do enjoy reading about yours. rusty duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12238493821002258459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-11515803353609399652013-07-31T17:15:16.516+01:002013-07-31T17:15:16.516+01:00I am so envious that you saw a Purple Emperor.
Th...I am so envious that you saw a Purple Emperor.<br /><br />That's all.<br />CCelia Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12776686088752602321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066940655894046331.post-4694761185127483352013-07-31T17:11:24.066+01:002013-07-31T17:11:24.066+01:00Thanks Snowbird. The hives are bursting with bees ...Thanks Snowbird. The hives are bursting with bees at the moment, but the numbers will start to reduce in August. Then (hopefully) I should start to see the queen more, she won't be able to hide from me so easily! Apparently the male Purple Emperors look for salt on rotting flesh etc, luckily I could take a photo of this one without it settling on anything I didn't want to take a photo of! And I have to agree about Harry!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02792703802542843791noreply@blogger.com