Tuesday 22nd July - Bees and cardoons

 I spent time watching the big bumble bees in the cardoon flowers;

The cardoons have grown up to 7 feet tall, with large, thistle-like flowers. The flowers are big enough for the bees to disappear into.

There seemed to be a number of them sharing each flower head; I could just see about three on a flower, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were more on the other side.

There was a white butterfly desperately trying to join in, but I think it must have found it too difficult to work out how to land among the feathery purple flowers.

Music

The flower duet, by Delibes, from his comic opera Lakmé, sung by Anna Netrebko and Elina Garanca