More from the 29th May 2009

Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui

Resident in north Africa and southern Europe
A summer visitor to northern Europe, some returning to the Mediterranean in early autumn
Prefers nectar from thistle (its larval foodplant) and knapweed

I have a photograph of a Painted Lady sitting on my watch in one of the most barren
areas of the eastern Sahara desert, drinking water from my wrist. Remarkable.

Elder
Sambucus nigra

Caprifoliaceae

Sanfoin
Onobrychis vicifolia
Leguminosae
Perennial

I am fairly confident that this is an Oedemera beetle- perhaps nobilis?
It fits the description in my books for the male of the specis.

Bittersweet
Solanum dulcamara
Solanaceae
Perennial

Poisonous!