Globe Artichoke with Chafer Beetle

Today I made a plan to visit Loseley Park near Guildford, and actually stuck to it! 

The main attraction was a Garden Show, with Arts and Crafts thown in. As always, I was amazed by the creativeness and skills on show - and just wish I had a bigger wallet and a far bigger house to be able to buy some of it.

The show ticket also gave access to the Loseley House gardens, and they were worth the cost of the ticket alone.  The gardens were just overflowing with colour and the butterflies, bees and other insects were having a field day. My favourite shot of the day was of the green Rose Chafer beetle enjoying the pollen from a large Globe Artichoke in the herb garden.  I've only seen this insect once before, many years ago in my own garden, so I was really pleased to see it.