We were weeding Laura's garden the other day when she spotted this elegant chap, Deilephila elphenor, the Elephant Hawk Moth. In spite of his exotic appearance he seems to be common over most of Europe and Asia. I've only ever seen one before, odd as he's not very subtle in his colours. The caterpillar has large eyespots and mimics a snake when threatened.
Also bright and furry is this Bog Asphodel, Narcethium ossifragum, so many wild flowers are complex and beautiful if you get close enough. they're just so common one never looks properly, also knee deep in mud. The specific name refers to the myth that sheep eating it develope fragile bones, probably because it grows in wet acidic calcium poor soils, not to blame just in the same place.
In spite of their similarity, it's not very closely related to the Bulbine alooides, a Southern african native bulb which I've had for years. M grew it from seed in the early 1970s. Bulbine is closely related to the Asphodels, which Bog Asphodel isn't. I'm confused again.
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