Bees, Butterflies, and Woodland Shade

Wednesday Walk took me around the woods today, mainly because it was simply too hot to spend much time out in the open. The shade beneath the trees made all the difference, with a gentle breeze now and then making the walk much more comfortable. On days like this, the woodland paths are definitely the best place to escape the heat.

Although I was looking for cooler conditions rather than wildlife, nature had other ideas. Along the edges of the path, I came across several areas that were attracting plenty of insects. One particularly busy bee was collecting nectar, moving from one flower head to the next.

A little further along, I saw a Painted Lady and a Red Admiral butterfly, their wings opening and closing as they fed. They stayed still long enough for a few photographs before fluttering off to find their next meal. The trouble with photographing butterflies, is that firstly, they don't always open their wings, and secondly, the breeze kept blowing the flowers to and fro, making it even more of a challenge.

A bright ladybird sits on a green leaf in the sunshine.

The walk wasn't a long one, but slowing down meant I noticed far more than I might have otherwise.

The woods provided the perfect refuge from the sun, and despite the heat, it turned into a nice stroll with some lovely encounters with the wildlife.

Thanks for visiting, and happy #wednesdaywalk hosted by @tattoodjay.