We have two plum trees; one in each garden. The plum tree by the kitchen door hasn't produced as much fruit as usual this year and the fruit that has fallen hasn't rotted in the right way because this summer hasn't been warm enough.
The plum in the back garden has been as prolific as usual and these past two weeks have been perfect conditions for drawing in butterflies. The patch of ground beneath the tree is waste (the tree is too big, drawing too much water, allowing too little rain and sunshine) so I let the fruit out of reach fall and stew; if the weather is warm enough the sickly sweet smell is enough to drive the butterflies crazy. I collect the rotting fruit into pots so that the stones are in one place for collection; while the fruit is giving off that scent the butterflies will cartwheel in from mid-morning when the sun hits the garden to drink and flirt (if that isn't injecting a too anthropomorphic note).
Even my presence and the noises my camera makes occasionally won't always scare them off, and if we do they never go far away, often only to the neighbour's wall to wait for things to quieten down.
These are Red Admirals. Peacocks have also been abundant.
PS I'm feeling exceptionally muscular tonight as well as tired; I pulled down the old back fence this afternoon.
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