What has happened to summer?

These photos were all taken last week when it still seemed to be summer.  I took them during a break from gardening and was hoping to catch the sparrows having a drink or a bath in our mock waterfall, but no such luck.

The garden seemed to be full of young blackbirds for days.  Great big fledglings, larger than the parent birds, and chirruping loudly as they urged Mum and Dad to keep feeding them.   They also enjoyed sunbathing and made the most of it.

I am always trying to get a good shot of bees gathering nectar.  Not a good photo here but you can just about see one on the marjoram.

No such luck on the lavender.  They either moved round to the other side of the flowers or flew off. I must learn to focus more quickly!

I did catch this tiny moth on a clematis leaf.  It's colours are bleached out here but they were wonderful.

 This peacock butterfly obliged me, but they too are so busy and can't keep still long enough for a good picture and just as I am about to press the shutter, they so often close their wings.

This is my next task - there is a path through there somewhere and I must find it again.

Our little friend here has had a few problems lately.   I posted about her having her right eye removed owing to glaucoma and a new lens put into the left eye.  Last week she had to have several teeth removed and was very wobbly for a day after the extractions.  She is very resilient and seems to have bounced back to her normal happy self and we can't call her Dog Breath any more!

Since I took these photos the weather has been more autumnal than summery with a distinct smell of autumn in the air.  We have had strong wind, heavy rain and quite cool temperatures, interspersed with muggy humid conditions.  Maybe next week I shall be able to sit outside again.