A-Z Challenge 2015 - Butterflies A

A- Z Challenge 2015

My A-Z posts this year will be about butterflies with an emphasis of those from Britain. I expect that I shall have to include some from elsewhere as well. Until I get started I'm not sure what other connections will occur. You will just have to wait and see. As usual I am expecting to cheat for some letters of the alphabet; I’m sure you will see why.

In 1978 there was a sitcom on British TV called 'Butterflies.' Its theme tune was one I always associate with Dolly Parton - "Love is like a butterfly."

Dialogue in the first episode included these words, "We are all kids chasing butterflies. You see it, you want it, you grab it and there it is all squashed in your hands."

I promise you that no butterflies have been harmed in this Challenge. 

After all, "Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing."

A - Adonis Blue


Adonis was the Greek god of beauty and desire whose name in modern times is often applied to handsome youths.

Adonis Blue - Male

This brilliant sky blue butterfly is the most vivid of British blue butterflies. The female is chocolate brown.

Adonis Blue - Female

As you can see both have chequered fringes to their wings with the female having flecks of yellow.

Although it has become a declining species conservationists are trying to encourage populations by managed grazing programs in their chalk grasslands. They are to be found on the limestone and chalk of southern England in Dorset, the Isle of Wight, the Chilterns, Wessex and Kent.

Hippocrepsis comosa

The horseshoe vetch (hippocrepsis comosa) is the only flower on which this butterfly feeds so you are unlikely to find it on the bush that bears its name.

Buddleja davidii - Adonis Blue

The buddleia, apply known as the butterfly bush, in our garden attracts many butterflies each year but unfortunately not the Adonis Blue.

Each Sunday I contribute to the Sunday Stamps meme. How I wish I could include this stamp.

Hungary

Photo Attributions:

• Adonis Blue - Male: Polyommatus bellargus, 25 June 2006, Harold Süpfle - CC BY-SA 2.5
• Adonis Blue - Female: Polyommatus bellargus, 25 June 2006, Harold Süpfle - CC BY-SA 2.5
• Horseshoe vetch hippocrepsis comosa, uploaded by Tigerente, June 11 2006 - CC BY-SA 3.0
• Buddleja davidii, Adonis Blue, 22 Aug 2012, Ptelea - CC BY-SA 3.0
• Hungarian Stamp, scan by Darjac

Taunton Castle and the Bloody Assizes

A-Z Challenge 2012 - T

Taunton Castle

Back in Anglo-Saxon times, c 710 AD, King Ine of Wessex “timbered him a burgh” at Taunton in what is now the south west county of Somerset. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle related that Ethelburga, his consort, destroyed it 12 years later when recapturing it from rebels.

A minster and a manor house built by the Bishops of Wessex were later to occupy the site before the minster became an Augustinian Priory in c 1120. Henry de Blois transformed the manor house into a mighty castle in 1138 during the Civil War in the reign of King Stephen.

Walls of Taunton Castle - 2009

In the first half of the 12^th century Taunton was a typical Norman keep, 50 feet by 40, with three stories and 13 feet thick walls. Now it is more Edwardian than Norman in appearance.

The outer ward of the castle has been invaded by two hotels, but the great gate-house opening into this enclosure dates from the time of Edward I (1272-1307. The inner ward is ‘triangular in shape with the Great Hall on the north side.

Inevitably the castle has a reputation of being haunted, the Great Hall of the castle especially. Somerset has many traditions and legends relating back to the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685. Somerset people suffered at the hands of the authorities after the failed uprising. Taunton Castle was the scene for some of the trails of the Bloody Assizes.

The rebellion was led by James Scott, 1^st Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress Lucy Walter. After the death of his father in 1685 Monmouth tried to win the throne from his uncle James II. Having captured Taunton his followers took up residence in the Castle where he was proclaimed King. His supporters celebrated at the castle with wine and dancing. Their high spirits were to be short lived.

In the early morning of 6 July 1685, Monmouth’s army was crushed at the Battle of Sedgemoor. ON 15 July James Scott was beheaded in London. The King sent the infamous Hanging Judge Jeffries west to dole out savage retribution.

Excalibur and Taunton Castle Gate - 2009

It was in Taunton Castle’s Great Hall that Jeffries condemned 200 of Monmouth’s followers to the gallows, with many more sold into slavery. The women who had taken part in the dancing were flogged.

The museum, now occupying the Great Hall is said to echo to the marching feet of soldiers bringing prisoners to trial. A man in period dress and wig, carrying a sword and pistol has been seen. In addition to poltergeist activity the ghost of a fair-haired woman in 17^th century costume also appears in the castle.

Castle Hotel guests often hear the soothing strains of a phantom violin or fiddle which are said to be sounds of the Duke of Monmouth and his followers continuing to celebrate a ‘victory’ for which they were unknowingly to suffer Jeffries bloody justice.

Hilary Melton-Butcher’s chose ‘my castle’ in Kent on Saturday - Scotney Castle

Attributions:

·        Walls of Taunton Castle 2009; by Ken Grainger; Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.

·        Excalibur and Taunton Castle Gate 2009; by Ken Grainger; Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.

·        Images from Geograph project collection