www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Wow, thanks for that information, Felix. My little butterfly book says they can't survive the European winter but I can't see why not cos it can be as cold in Africa at night during the winter as it is here at times. I have all sorts of thistles as well as a small amount of nettles so I shall wish for something amazing to happen.

Well you never know!

Generally breeding in the UK relies upon an immigration in the spring, which then breed in Britain to produce a summer brood.

If we have a decent Painted Lady year in 2008, and you manage to attract some adults to nectar in your garden you could well be lucky...

Felix.

I shall change my middle name to serendipity by deed poll and cross my fingers.

Hi Rosy, That's really interesting about Globe Artichokes Have you got Echinops ritro Globe Thistle in your garden too? I know that PL's bred on that. When we had the huge influx in May 1996 some one I know found larva on globe thistles in a garden centre in Hampshire. He wanted to make sure they survived and had to buy the plants! Another friend spotted a holly in a garden centre with Holly Blue eggs on & bought that for the same reason

Globe thistle will also be used for nectaring but seems to attract more bees than butterflies.

How interesting. I have grown a few Globe thistles ( that is the one with the blue ball head?) for my garden this year. I'm just about to plant them out. I hmm hmm acquired the seeds from a house not very far from me. Watch this space.

Denise