Alcea (Hollyhock)
Achillea
Agapanthus
Agastache
Aquilegia
Arctotis
Astrantia
Buddliea
Buddliea Altternifolia
Butterfly Weed
Catananche caerulea
Canna Lilly
Carnation
Coreopsis
Delphinium
Echinacea
Echinops
Eryngium
Geranium
Gerbera
Geum
Gypsophila
Helenium
Herbs
Hosta
Iris
Lantana
Leucanthemum
Lupins
Monarda
Penstemon
Peonies
Phlox
Polemonium
Rudbeckia
Sidalcea
Tanacetum (Pyrethrum)
Thalictrum
Trollius
Verbena
Veronica
Alpine Plants
Tropical Plants
Dragonflies
The Emperor dragonfly
The Emperor dragonfly is a very large, impressive dragonfly
that is on the wing from June to August. It is a common
species of large ponds and lakes, as well as canals and
ditches, but is rarely found away from water. The female lays
her eggs in floating pondweed. One of the largest dragonfly
species in Europe, the Emperor Dragonfly flies up high to
look for insect-prey, such as butterflies and chaser
dragonflies. It catches its prey in mid-air and may eat it on
the wing
Found in Central and Southern England and South Wales
The Common darter
The Common darter is a small, narrow-bodied dragonfly that
is typically on the wing from July to October, but can appear
as early as May and still be around in December if its mild.
This is a very common dragonfly, breeding in all sorts of
waterbodies from ponds and ditches, to rivers and lakes. As
their name suggests, Common darters dart forward
suddenly from a hovering position to catch their insect-prey.
They then take their catch to a favoured perch to eat it
In the late summer, Common darters can be found almost
everywhere, sat on twigs and fences, and angling their
wings towards the sun to warm up
Common Clubtail
Previously known as the Club-tailed Dragonfly, the Common clubtail is
a medium-sized dragonfly on the wing from early May to July. It is
elusive as an adult, mostly seen on emergence from its riverine habitat.
Meandering rivers with silty substrates over a rocky bed are favoured
by the burrowing larvae. Adults have a tightly synchronised emergence,
with dense concentrations being found at favoured sites. Once
emerged, adults quickly move away from the river to woodland up to
10km away, where they spend most of their time in the canopy of trees
The larvae of the Common clubtail live in the silt and mud of
riverbeds for three to five years and have a triangular-shaped
head; this makes them streamlined and difficult to dislodge
Found in Southern England and Wales, but restricted to a number
of rivers, including the Thames, Arun, Wye, Dee, Teifi and Severn
The Golden-ringed dragonfly
The Golden-ringed dragonfly is a very large dragonfly that is on the wing
from May to September. It is a dragonfly of small, acidic streams in
moorland and heathland, and may be found away from its breeding
sites. The female of this species is the UK's longest dragonfly because
of her long ovipositor. Golden-ringed dragonflies are voracious
predators, feeding on large insects, such as damselflies, other
dragonflies, wasps, beetles and bumblebees. They are fast, agile and
powerful flyers
The larvae of the Golden-ringed dragonfly live buried at the bottom of
streams, ambushing prey as it passes by. They grow very slowly and
may spend as long as five years in the water before they emerge to turn
into a dragonfly.
Found in West Scotland, Cumbria, Southern England, and Wales.
The Migrant hawker
The Migrant hawker is a medium-sized hawker dragonfly
that is on the wing from the end of July through to October,
or even November in warm years. It is a very common
species and can be found hunting in gardens, grassland
and woodland some distance from its breeding ponds.
Hawkers are the largest and fastest flying dragonflies; they
catch their insect-prey mid-air and can hover or fly
backwards
During the late summer, large numbers of Migrant hawkers
arrive from the continent boosting the resident population
Found in Southern and Central England and South Wales.
