SAFE HAVEN

Recently, after a night of gale-force winds, my friend Kaye sent me a photo of a cluster of ladybirds that had taken refuge under the loose bark on a gumtree but the bark had been dislodged by the wind.

Kaye had no idea her garden was harbouring these lovely and very beneficial creatures. Ladybirds and their larvae feed on plant pests such as aphids and also become food themselves, so finding so many had survived winter and would soon be spreading out across the garden was an exciting discovery.

Kaye had done nothing to attract this gathering of ladybirds except leave stands