Beasts

In common with many other back gardens in the UK, ours is under attack.  Not from any human-based intervention does this attack come, but from Dame Nature herself.  There are two main thrusts of attack in our garden at the moment.  The least of these comes from a small bug which we saw evidence of, earlier in the year.   A few weeks ago, everything seemed to be covered in Cuckoo Spit as Froghopper nymphs free with the sap of our garden plants.  These nymphs have now transformed into the adult form of the Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius), several of which are to be found living in our grape vines.

By far the most troubling creature however, has to be the caterpillars of the Small White Butterfly (Pieris rapae).  Having tried and failed to get a few Brussels Sprouts to grow against the overwhelming odds of snails, slugs and insects, we eventually managed to nurture three plants to rude health and just as things have started to look good for these three remaining plants, these little b****ers turn up and have their impertinent way with them.

Not wanting to destroy them (numbers of butterflies are dwindling dramatically), this pair of little 'darlings' were taken away and deposited in the wider countryside a long way away from our garden as I went back to searching for more attackers.