| Series Introduction There are things you only notice when you stop digging for a moment. Behind the spade — paused mid-task, soil still clinging to steel — is where the real garden reveals itself. Legs flicker across disturbed earth, wings vibrate in the margins of sight, shadows scatter, freeze, then resume their quiet industry. Gardening isn’t just about shaping space; it’s about witnessing the lives already unfolding there. My fascination with insects didn’t begin politely. It began with jam jars, lollipop sticks, secret collections, and a childhood spent negotiating curiosity with danger. Australia taught me respect quickly. Malaysia taught me abundance. Britain taught me subtlety. Across all three, insects were never background noise — they were characters, teachers, provocateurs, and occasionally, perpetrators of hard lessons. Now, as a gardener, those early instincts haven’t left me. They’ve matured. I no longer collect, but I still observe. I no longer interfere, but I still feel the same quiet thrill when something unfamiliar moves through the compost heap or when a spider holds its ground beside my boot. Observations From Behind the Spade is a 12-part life series exploring insects encountered across the UK, Australia, and Malaysia — not as specimens, but as experiences. These are not scientific papers or identification guides. They are moments of noticing. Of learning when to step back. Of recognising that healthy gardens are not silent, sterile places — they are alive, busy, and often misunderstood. Each post will focus on one insect (or group), what it meant then, what it means now, and what it quietly teaches the gardener willing to look a little closer. Because insects, after all, are good fun. And the garden is never empty — even when it looks still. |
Unless stated, featured images are my own work, created independently or with the assistance of AI.
Earthly Comforts 
Love the picture. Wow xx
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Thanks Janet, wish l could take credit for capturing this, However it is AI generated. It took several instructions and remits to tweak it just right, but it’s a great image now.
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