As the butterfly summer ends
With thistledown blowing across the valley,
I see your faded wings and broken bodies
Littering the path and wonder
How far you came on your journey:
You gave it everything you had
To finally find yourselves beaten
With only the promise of a hungry caterpillar
To take us through the winter months.
A wide range of butterflies are still active this month: painted ladies, speckled wood, red admiral and small tortoiseshell have all been spotted locally.
JAL Longdendale