Obligatory Fennel Post

The fennel has started blooming, attracting small hordes of syrphid flies despite the persistently gloomy June weather.

This fly is Allograpta obliqua, the common oblique syrphid which is a very common denizen of the small sky over my garden.  Here the fly is feeding on nectar but it will also be likely that she (if this is a she) will lay eggs among the fennel flowers.  The larval syrphids feed on aphids, and aphids are very common feeding on fresh succulent fennel flowers, stems and leaves; and they also persist on the stems as the fennel matures into senescence.  So eggs laid on fennel are likely to have a good source of food for some time to come.

But for now the fennel is fresh and new and aphid free.