Wednesday: Mahonia “Charity” …

… the best small tree for your wildlife garden. This one has been fruiting since early May, the blackbirds waiting for ripe fruit!
It starts flowering in late autumn  https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3610892
feeding overwintering queen bees and other insects and some little birds drink nectar too, blue tits, blackcaps, sparrows.
Weather was warm and pleasant, cloud cover made it more comfortable this afternoon as I had another session of seed sowing: assorted brassicas and perennial flowers.
Broccoli “Hungry Gap” are growing very well in the new raised bed behind greenhouse - they haven’t been watered because the water butt is empty as MrD paints his 2 sheds. There are small sprouting heads on all the plants, tried one with my dinner - very mild taste :-)
There’s a stomach bug doing the rounds and I seem to have it … :-((
Other photos are a very bedraggled butterfly - possibly a tortoise shell, still lively! Think the insect on the Daisy is a hover fly or maybe drone fly https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/common-drone-fly …
Stay safe & healthy & happy everyone :-)
Nos da pawb / goodnight all xx