Small copper butterflies
In one corner of the front terrace, just before you go up the steps towards our old greenhouse and out into the field, there’s an enormous half barrel that’s become a herb garden in miniature, although it holds at least half a dozen different varieties. The predominant plant is marjoram, with dense growth and stems topped with dainty white flowers. The whole plant is sweetly fragrant and the little bunches of flowers that top each stem must be full of nectar, since for the last few weeks they’ve been attracting hosts of small copper butterflies. In a normal summer we may see one or two of these delightful little creatures but this year there are scores in the garden. Apparently, the males are territorial, but they must have quite small territories if so many of them are frequenting the garden. Foodplants loved by its caterpillars are sorrel and broad-leaved docks – there are several huge sorrel plants just across the steps from the herb barrel, so perhaps that’s a further attraction. The caterpillars look odd, quite barrel-like, but the butterflies themselves are very pretty with vivid orange upper wings marked with black spots and soft brown edges.