I love the vibrant orange of this strawflower, Helichrysum. 
I don’t know what these dancing caterpillars are but they were all over the red leaves of our Corkscrew Hazel. The nearest id I can get is maybe they aren’t caterpillars at all but Sawfly larvae. Perhaps a knowledgeable reader out there can help..
This lovely poem by Seamus Heaney came my way today. I loved the memories it evoked of lifting sheets off the line with my Mum and folding together. We two still fold line-dried big bedding this way. 
utesmile
September 6, 2025 at 3:23 pm
I totally love those Straw flowers. Last year they were toally eaten by snails. So I didnt try this year.
mybeautfulthings
September 6, 2025 at 6:36 pm
I’ve only got half a dozen but they are gorgeous. I’ve never grown them before and have a little bunch drying now. Perhaps they’ve been safe from snails with it being so dry. 🙂
Heyjude
September 5, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Yes sawfly. I had them on my twisted Hazel a few years ago. I sprayed with soapy water. They make quite a mess of the leaves.
mybeautfulthings
September 5, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Yes, they do. They leave only the skeleton leaf structure. Thank you for the advice. I’ll get on that tomorrow. Interesting that they liked your twisted Hazel too.
Heyjude
September 6, 2025 at 8:09 am
larvae of many sawflies overwinter in the soil under their host plant, so cultivating the ground beneath susceptible plants by clearing debris and lightly raking the soil, will expose the larvae to be killed by frost, and to be eaten by birds and other predators
Heyjude
September 6, 2025 at 8:10 am
I’ve also had rose sawfly!
mybeautfulthings
September 6, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Oh no!
Awakening Wonders
September 5, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Sweet poem – and yes, to drying sheets in the great outdoors!
mybeautfulthings
September 5, 2025 at 7:12 pm
I love it when there’s a day good enough to blow the washing in sunshine. It smells so good when dried outside. 🙂
artfulcrone
September 5, 2025 at 12:11 pm
A lovely poem. And a terrific shot of the leaf dancers!
mybeautfulthings
September 5, 2025 at 7:13 pm
They really do look as if they are dancing and playing statues to boot! They all stopped moving when I touched the leaf. 🙂