Swift Half update - 31st July 2011

• Two sunflowers at "Swift Half" are now taller than all the neighbours' sunflowers - even the fake ones!
• Moff trap highlights in this warm week - ruby tiger, spectacle, lots of scalloped oaks (a  lot this year), many buff ermines (ditto) and a new moff for the garden  -  a male orange swift (see photo in this post).
• Plenty of baby palmate newts in the pond, but few adult newts now.
• Two frogs in the pond still.
• Brown hawker dragonflies regular visitors.
• Damsons plump and dropping well.
• Honeysuckle in its second bloom, as is the lavendar and white valerian.
• Plenty of bees (all shapes and sizes) on wild flowers and spear thistles, in rear (rear) garden.

• Mini heatwave expected this week coming - temperatures up to 30C - sparking off a few thunderstorms no doubt...