A Wee Introduction

Okay, that’s the boys both in bed; I have roughly 20 minutes to get this typed up before the youngest decides to wake up!

So last week I would have started doing my once-weekly walk around Castlemilk Park, Glasgow; counting all the butterflies I see with my sons (its’s not as bad as it sounds- trust me - Jared has loved it since day one)!

Unfortunately, all transects have been cancelled (due to the you know what) so we are going to bring the butterflies to us - our veranda & back green - in the meantime.

Every Lepidoptera we will see will be passed on to Butterfly Conservation U.K. - there is a nifty app here you can download to do the same - if you wish. Go on...do it at least for Sir David Attenborough: he is the president!

Spending the majority of time inside with youngsters is hard work, so we are going to do as many butterfly & nature activities as possible indoors; whilst working towards our John Muir Family Award. This will involve the exploration of Castlemilk park from home & on foot when we can. After the lockdown, we will take part in some hands-on conservation work. I recall being told something about an Austrian scythe (can’t wait)!

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We have been working on the life cycle of the butterfly today, so I’ll get this up shortly. For now, I have shared a poem about one of my favourite butterflies to look out for at this time of year!

P.s. Since I started writing this Levi did wake up .. twice (I’m going to have to type faster)!

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Anthocharis cardamines

A medium Lepidoptera

emerges early May

with exquisite elegance

they’ll grace gardens~

with butterfly ballet

fluttering fancies

that wriggle no more

wispy white, glistening gold

those striking wings~

beautifully bold

males won’t be mistaken

for small cabbage whites

wildflower havens, speckled

with Orange-tipped delights.