Thanks Pauline & Wurzel
After a difficult week when three quarters of my family (including me) spent all or part of the week in hospital, there have been some highs and lows
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
A planned stay in hospital for my youngest son accompanied by my wife turned into an unplanned visit to A&E for my wife
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
and an unplanned stay in hospital for me
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
The Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester has grounds which I am sure contained plenty of butterflies but my son was quite unwilling to investigate, so we saw none there. I did however spot my first Holly Blue of the year on the most brief of ventures outside
Friday 18.4.2014 At Home
My son and I returned home on Thursday, leaving Mum in the hospital. Advice for anybody planning to be ill, DO NOT BE ILL ON BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND !!!!
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
there is no staff. I thought that butterfly watching was going to be completely off the menu for this Bank Holiday weekend, but I was able to make a quick walk up my local footpath to get some fresh air on Friday morning
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Although on the face of it was nice, it was actually quite cool when the sun disappeared behind a cloud and butterfly activity was at a bare minimum.
![DSCN9175 - Copy.JPG (282.79 KiB) Viewed 522 times Speckled Wood Hedge End 18.4.2014](./files/thumb_11661_96bb48a09fe07114e25e34e4407aaddf)
- Speckled Wood Hedge End 18.4.2014
However, there were several Speckled Wood about and briefly it warmed up enough to encourage a few Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock to flutter around the local Nettle patch for a while. Later in the afternoon my first garden Speckled Wood caught my eye from the kitchen window. Fluttering around the sunny corner of the garden and basking on the fence. Before I could get a picture it fluttered down on to a clump of grass and deposited an egg
![DSCN9180 - Copy.JPG (139.6 KiB) Viewed 522 times Speckled Wood egg laid in the garden](./files/thumb_11661_2e563eaed298245adc567b35219da36c)
- Speckled Wood egg laid in the garden
Speckled Wood is actually the only species that I have found in all stages in the garden. I have found eggs and young larvae on more than one occasion and adults are regular visitors. Early this year whilst clearing up in the garden I found an empty pupa which I believe was A Speckled Wood. I have retrieved this particular egg as the grass upon which it was laid is only a temporary feature. I will rear it through hopefully to adulthood
The unexpected visit to hospital was a rush, but I had the foresight to give my Purple Hairstreak larvae some extra food just in case. Unfortunately I did not think to give my plants some water and they suffered quite badly. My Blackthorn Cuttings, Everlasting Pea and Wild Hop have all shrivelled and I think I will have to start again
Sunday 20.4.2014 Purple Hairstreak Larvae
On Sunday it rained all day, but I finally got to see one of my Purple Hairstreak larvae for the first time
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I was beginning to wonder if they were still alive. This one was the second one that hatched on the 10th April. I am sure it has been outside of its bud before, I just had not been around at the right time. It is remarkably well camouflaged and is now about 6-7mm long. I still have not seen the first larva to hatch. The only signs of encouragement being the faintest whisps of silk on some of the outer leaves and the odd piece of frass.
![DSCN9181 - Copy.JPG (243.22 KiB) Viewed 522 times First sight of Purple Hairstreak Larva at home](./files/thumb_11661_becb1b5fe0f46c00cdac62255435e60a)
- First sight of Purple Hairstreak Larva at home
I am astonished at the difference a little cosseting makes to development. I know some of the larvae in other diaries (Pauline and Maximus) larvae have already pupated in a protected environment. Mine have been out in the elements, unprotected except for netting.