Painted Ladies!

Watch the painted ladies dance
In a gentle breeze
Their light lives
Flitting, fleet.
Let them stop to sup
And watch
As their wings
Stretch in the sun.

At least 12 painted ladies in my garden! Ah... but you know actually I mean butterflies, not any other kind, so it's not so bad. At one point I saw 14 butterflies on our buddlea, including Peacock, Painted Ladies, Red Admiral and Cabbage White.

Here's the Painted Lady in all her splendour. I spent ages in the garden today just watching them. the buddlea is collapsing on to the lawn and needs cutting back, but whilst it is host to such a glorious assortment of butterflies, bees, lady birds and other creatures, I can't bring myself to do it. Once it's finished flowering though...