The hunt for Big Billy

There were three reasons for launching this blog. To document family life, discover the delights of Surrey and showcase some photos.  It’s laughable I’ve lived in Surrey since 2010 and seen very little of it. I guess that’s what happens when you have a baby and damage your coccyx so badly you can’t drive. Only to break your wrist when your independence returns.

However, having re-gained mobility and addressed the work/life balance, now it’s the perfect time to explore what’s on our doorstep as a family. Whether it be Surrey Hills, the waterways, homes, gardens, animal attractions or theme parks. It’s amazing being back in the country after twenty years in London.

We’ve already fallen in love with Bocketts Farm and RHS Wisley. Visiting the latter for the first time last month, we vowed to return so POD could see the butterflies at the Glasshouse. A welcome change from the “girrels”, “backbirds” and “peegins” she sees in the garden.

We arrived at RHS Wisley on a beautifully sunny day. There was a queue at the Glasshouse but we joined it unperturbed, initially occupying POD with excitable butterfly speak. We were relieved to arrive at the entrance half an hour later. None more so than The POD Father who spent our wait chasing after a bored
toddler. To then be told “it’s an hour’s wait from here” was a stark reminder that we’d got our timings completely wrong. But it was midday on a Saturday so an epic fail on our part. We had no option but to cut our losses and leave. Butterflies were replaced with playground adventures, jumping in muddy puddles and chatting to ducks so a good time was still had by all.

A few days later we were back. Just shy of the 10am opening time, we hoped for a more leisurely visit. It was a another gorgeous day and RHS Wisley looked stunning. No dilly dallying around though, it was straight to the Glasshouse for us. The ten minute wait saw POD entertain herself by sitting on the floor and returning the butterfly guide we’d just purchased.

What a glorious sight met our eyes when we entered, it was like walking into a tropical paradise. A delicious feast for the eyeballs and a photographer’s dream. There were exotic butterflies everywhere. People stared with their mouths agog whilst simultaneously attempting to de-steam their cameras. It quickly became apparent attempting to take any photos before the camera had aclimatised was a fruitless task. I gave up trying.

POD wandered around pointing saying “buttfly” as if she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. It truly was a spectacular sight.

When the camera returned to life, there was no stopping my quest for the perfect butterfly shot. Their sheer speed made this a huge challenge. And just when you thought you had it, a fellow visitor would appear in the viewfinder. I was keen to get a picture of a huge Blue Morpho but it was too busy enjoying its own airborn party. And whilst I did see a red-bodied Big Billy, it was also too speedy for me.

But I took the most incredible photo of two Owl butterflies. If you’ve not seen it in the slideshow for this post, have a look. It’s stunning.

Once we’d left the hot confines of the Glasshouse, we basked in glorious sunshine, drank hot chocolate and ate cake. POD escaped at one point, sunglasses on head, to have a chat with some nearby ducks. Then we went for a leisurely wander around the gardens taking in everything RHS Wisley had to offer. It really is a wonderful place.

Butterflies at the Glasshouse is on at RHS Wisley until 24 February 2013 – open daily from 10am to 4pm.