Yesterday (2nd October), I made my annual pilgrimage to
Waterperry Gardens, Oxon, to see the magnificent herbaceous border.
![Waterperry1.jpg (207.47 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=11mm, 1/100s@f/4, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_9b23ab5b65745b5c0bcde1dbce2e6f2d)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=11mm, 1/100s@f/4, ISO160
Unfortunately, unlike previous years, when the border has been 'swarming' with Vanessids, there were, initially, no butterflies to be seen at all! I thought I was going to have to content myself with this plant -
Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies'
![Waterperry2.jpg (105.32 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=20mm, 1/1600s@f/4.5, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_6e2236c58e74e73be1e5cf4c2bda7d2b)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=20mm, 1/1600s@f/4.5, ISO160
Then, as the warm sun continued through the afternoon, I encountered my first
Small Tortoishell, not on the profusely flowering borders but in the small rock garden:
![Waterperry3.jpg (146.28 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=93mm, 1/1600s@f/4, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_90a3096f1f23a3952d1190a75a91d8d1)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=93mm, 1/1600s@f/4, ISO160
A little later, on the horticultural beds, I spotted a
Peacock, so things were definitely looking up
![Waterperry4.jpg (179.94 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=52mm, 1/1000s@f/4.5, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_5ae33a442662d5d0dd61dde21b4edc96)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=52mm, 1/1000s@f/4.5, ISO160
I decided it was time to attach my 1 dioptre close-up lens and took the following, to demonstrate that the Lumix
can do differential focus:
![Waterperry5.jpg (109.89 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=18mm with +1CU, 1/400s@f/4, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_b75acaab2a45142079400237fc459286)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=18mm with +1CU, 1/400s@f/4, ISO160
Next up was another
Small Tortoiseshell, though i didn't recognise it at first sighting, as it was unusually tiny - more like a Large Skipper at a glance!
![Waterperry6a.jpg (109.03 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=16mm with +1CU, 1/1000s@f/4, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_ddf2cbc94364d41dc278f4a862eed6a2)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=16mm with +1CU, 1/1000s@f/4, ISO160
Returning to the main herbaceous border, a lone
Red Admiral was taking advantage of the nectar bounty:
![Waterperry7.jpg (223.86 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=87mm, 1/640s@f/4, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_86e075d2d8bd9811de5e330b5cca2611)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=87mm, 1/640s@f/4, ISO160
And then, at around 4pm, Whites suddenly started to appear. I missed photographing a Green-veined White, which appeared close by, while I was concentrating on the Admiral but, shortly afterwards, I caught this
Small White. I noticed that the whites were favouring the white flowers as though they knew they were better camouflaged on these!
![Waterperry8.jpg (154.34 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=108mm, 1/1300s@f/4, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_2931a6644a6ef712e8c28b8eb6019aa5)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=108mm, 1/1300s@f/4, ISO160
In the end, then a satisfying visit,though by no means the great Autumn butterfly-fest that I have experienced in previous years. In particular, I saw no Commas.
A parting shot of the amazing border above a group of Naked Ladies
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
(Colchicums)
![Waterperry9.jpg (186.39 KiB) Viewed 1166 times Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014<br />Lumix FZ200 - fl=8mm, 1/200s@f/4, ISO160](./files/thumb_11310_b2475482246f858c70d61398f7128c51)
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2014
Lumix FZ200 - fl=8mm, 1/200s@f/4, ISO160
With temperatures now set to fall, this may have been the last chance for a mass showing. Perhaps there is still a chance for some late migrants to appear.
Mike