On Tuesday I spent some time outside in the garden with my husband. It was a nice Autumn day reaching about 16 Celsius (60 F) – warm compared to the last two weeks!

My husband was busy fixing a storage area and I’d come outside to take some photos of my fall blooming flowers – Monkshood, and Toad Lilies in particular. Much to my amazement I noticed that there were Lady Bugs everywhere!

I mean, hundreds … maybe even thousands!

I guess the warmer weather drew them out. I’ve noticed that this happens at least once every fall, but most often in September. However I haven’t seen this many lady bugs in one day in a few years!

We had to shake them off every time we went into the house! I’m sure we brought a few in with us.

I wish they’d come out like that in June or early July when the aphids are eating my new rose buds!

This past summer was so cool that I don’t recall even seeing any lady bugs until August when we started getting our normal hot humid days that had been missing in July and part of June.

It rained most of the day yesterday so I didn’t see any lady bugs – but I didn’t really expect to – at least not in such high numbers. It’s been my experience that there’s usually only one day each year of such high lady bug levels. (sometimes there’s also a day of small gnats – usually in the fall too, but I didn’t notice one this year). I did see a few lady bugs flying around outside in the early afternoon today … but then the winds picked up and it got cooler so I guess they found shelter.

Have you had a day when you saw a lot of Lady Bugs or other insects this year? Have you notice that this seems to happen every year?

I certainly hope that seeing so many lady bugs the other day is a good sign for next year. I love having lady bugs in my garden as they eat the aphids and I believe some of the other pest bugs that damage my plants.

BTW I’ll post some of the photos I took the other day soon!