Sometimes I am lucky and see a wide range of butterflies in spring and summer but not this year. A few fleeting glimpses of distant brimstones kept me encouraged and last week my luck changed with a red admiral, a green-veined white, marbled white and meadow brown with a wounded wing. I am pleased. At the Lodge the Dartmoor ponies were relaxing under a tree waiting for the rain with one wearing a little head jewellery. There is always one in the family! I will finish with a noisy moorhen in the Swiss Garden this morning.