Taexalia
wild.life
Red Tailed Bee Taks A Dram
I found this little fellow on my garden path looking a bit dazed and confused. He seemed to be trying to get somewhere, but unable to fly.
Our bees are precious and they are under threat and I tried to help by sending Himself inside to dilute some honey with water on a saucer. I nudged the bee off my finger onto the plate and he immediately began to drink. It took quite a while for him to get his fill, but then a bees tongue is a ... read more
Butterfly Flutterby
I caught a segment of the BBC morning show this morning that left me disappointed and throwing my hands up in the air at what passes for "work" these days. The segment was supposed to be highlighting how gardeners can help to combat the decline in butterfly numbers by planting butterfly friendly plants. You can imagine my disappointment (and random mutterings) when the entire segment seemed to focus on "plant Buddleia and aren't ... read more
Wasp Architecture
We found this beauty as we took a walk out towards the Crow Tree. We have not taken this path much this summer, and the hound and I forgive ourselves as we would have been walking within two feet of this wasp haven. It is empty and I taken the opportunity for a closer look - I have never seen a wasp's nest at close range before. I wonder at the two gaping holes - were they part of the design, or did some other creature burst in? Has this nest been abandoned as part of the natural cycle, ... read more
Nothing Is Useful
It doesn't look like much more than a scrawny patch of neglected garden - and in a way that's exactly what it is. The hedge-in-the-wrong-place was dug out a few months ago and still I haven't come up with A Plan for this corner, other than vague references to "a wildlife garden, or "a wildlife pond"... Yet this bare patch of soil has been as much a part of the circle as the Borage flowers, or the goldfinches. Can you see any holes? They were made by ... read moreReturning
These photos pretty much sum up my magical ... read more
Magic
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="348" caption="Small White Butterfly Child"][/caption] Late last year we had a bonus extra in our organic lettuce from the farm - I fed her up and watched her turn into a chrysalis. Her jar has sat on my desk throughout the winter with a tiny inch long fragile greenish pouch precariously attached with a few strands of gossamer. At one end the caterpillar's old head dangled, no longer required... Just yesterday I was worrying a little that she ... read more
Art and Archaeology in Aberdeen
Allan and I travelled to Aberdeen on Thursday afternoon. I was appalled at the price of the bus tickets! £30 each! Made a note to organise in advance in future and get cheaper advance tickets by train. Can't wait til I'm an OAP and then I'll get free bus travel anywhere in Scotland - although I'm guessing the new prices reflect the number of folk taking advantage of that great idea. The journey was the usual fair of mildly comfortable seats, personal stereo headphones that are anything but ... read more
Bathtime Buddy
We found this lovely lady in the bath yesterday - we hope she is enjoying the big outside more than the smooth white ... read more
Bright Young Thing
Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus Lapidarius)
I saw this fuzzy buzzy bee the other day when I was wandering in Lochend Park. It cheered me up with it's bright orange bum and it's wacky flight patterns. I love ... read more
Art and Archaeology in Aberdeen