A few years ago now I planted up a small Buddleia bush. Over the years it has been trampled on, had a fence put up beside it, and many zoomies have taken place around it. But it has stood resolute. And grown, and grown and grown.

Now the paddock has been fenced, and we no longer need the small metal fencing we installed. RD now has the arduous task of trying to pull it back out, after all the layers of wire, and the grass not wanting to let it go. The Buddleia is now free to grow larger, and is free from dogs whipping round it, now they have such an expanse to run in.

This Butterfly Bush gives me great pleasure. Over the years I have come to realise that love never dies.

I do believe that some animals come back to you, in the same form or another. The summer after our beloved cat Diddies died so tragically, we saw an influx of beautiful white butterflies in our garden. Now Diddies was always afraid of the wind, but I believe she has come back to us, every summer, as these beautiful butterflies. Fluttering around in the breeze, no longer afraid. She was always a bit skittish. Her butterfly persona suits her perfectly.

In the winter we often see a black and white cat on the windowsill. Thinking it’s Daisy there have been many times I have gone to let her in, only to find Daisy asleep in the bedroom. Diddies has clearly never left us.

The butterflies fly around us, often enlightening on us. As if to say ‘I am here, I love you so, I have never left.’

The Buddleia has come into it’s own. Every day it is covered in butterflies. If you look carefully you can see them. And it makes me smile. Every day.

We understand now just how much of a collective’ we are, with all living things, and try to help where we can. We have left a 2 meter walkway around the fencing in the paddock, allowing it to grow wild. The tree that blew down in the storm in January has been left to lie. For shelter for any animals who visit..

In this awful world of man we live in, my garden is now my solace.

Moisy