The cabbages were in a planter on top of a low wall next to a main road, Wurzel. There was a sort of open courtyard next to a shop, and there were a few other vegetables - some carrots I think - but mostly brassicas. There were nasturtiums as well, but these had been turned by frost into sludge. I think, like you suggest, it was instead of a floral display and intended to provide something edible for a change. Certainly the local Small Whites had taken advantage, and there were maybe as many as fifty caterpillars across all the plants. I'd have taken more photos, but I was causing a minor obstruction on the pavement...
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
They came as a bit of a surprise, as firstly as it was November, secondly this was up in Yorkshire rather than the balmy south coast, and finally there had clearly been a recent frost.
Thursday 8th November: Back home, so with bright sunshine and 14 degrees today, I set off around my local patch. The strong wind put a bit of a dampener on things, but a Red Admiral appeared around each of the first two ivy patches I visited.
Walking across a wider piece of grass near the lake, something smaller flew up from the ground and darted away. I managed to catch up with it for just one quick shot before it disappeared - Silver-Y moth. I imagine these aren't often seen as late in the year as this.
A little further along, I was circled by another Red Admiral, which then basked for a moment on the brambles.
It then moved to some low-growing nettles and spent some time flitting between plants before finally settling again.
I glimpsed the abdomen curving down, and sure enough the butterfly had left a single egg on the nettles.
I now need to check a few more nearby nettle patches!
For the time being, the season continues...
Dave