A Very Special Painted Lady

I gave up on the garden yesterday afternoon and took refuge indoors - see post here - not only out of grief for the total lack of butterflies but also because it came on to rain. By the time I had finished writing yesterday's post the sun was out again so I returned to the garden, to be greeted by this very special butterfly, a painted lady.

It was as if it had heard my pain and rushed to the garden to comfort me.

Not only are painted ladies one of the most beautiful of British butterflies, particularly when they reveal their underwing, but they also have a most unusual life cycle - I have attempted to describe it in an earlier post here.

So, if you're still listening, my painted lady, thank you for hearing my cry and for coming to comfort me.