The temperature went back up by a couple of degrees this morning, and the sun even emerged, albeit briefly, and suddenly the garden was full of Plumpies. I managed to count six competing males zooming around the pulmonaria in the front border, and there were at least four in the back garden, including this lovely fresh female.
I don’t remember ever spotting a female as early in the season as this before – they’re usually several weeks after the males – and I’m happy for the early guys that she’s here. I generally assume that the first males to emerge are probably too worn and old by the time the females appear to have much of a chance of winning one, and I always feel a little sad for them that they may have been too quick off the mark in pushing their way out of their nests.
Having caught my own female this morning I went off to Stratford with R, for riverside walking and lunch. It was a very pleasant day.
R: L2, C6, D11.
