22-06-25 Just in case we were all enjoying the superb sunny Spring and Summer a little too much, the weather gods like to remind us from time to time that we do live in a cold bleak Northern outpost of Europe and that sometimes it just lashes down with rain. I'm sure some gardeners welcomed the plants being watered on Sunday 22nd. We foolishly decided to go for our constitutional along to the Botanics to watch them celebrate.
I was pleased to come across the remains of this goosander family. They are a delighful and handsome species and the chicks are particularly cute when younger, especially when they ride on the back of the mum. I was sorry to have missed these scenes this year - I didn't make the time to hike up and down the WoL looking for where they were hanging out. So it was some compensation to catch up with these 2 chicks (goosanderlings?) sheltering from the awful weather. It did make me wonder what brutal tragedy had reduced the family from what might have been 10 fluffy youngsters to just 2. Herons, foxes, dogs, cats, buzzards and sparrowhawks all potential predators. Hopefully these two will make it to adulthood.
Of course we were carrying waterproofs. The forecast was mixed and right enough there were glimpses of sunshine between showers but the showers were so convincing we sought shelter as they approached. First one, we stood under a tree in St Mark's, which wasn't ideal as after a short while the rain begins to penetrate and large drips plop onto cagouled heads (top of the page photo). Being a Sunday the Queen Mother's garden in the Botanics was open and we were just approaching it as the second downpour arrived. We weren't the only ones to hide out in the small memorial building lined with shells and pine cones. After about 5~10 minutes we exited and the sun also tried to make a reappearance.
everything got a good watering
Mary of the lilies
a bee had taken (ineffective) cover underneath this foliage
marmalade hover - ready again for business
Can't remember if it was the third shower or just desire for tea and cake that chased us into the cafe. These cakes looked tempting, and they might have been better on the same day they were baked, which would almost have justified the price (£4.95!) Generally the quality is good but the prices are high, which is why we don't go in every visit. We hoped the profit margins helped support the gardens.
On the way to the rock garden to check for commas we came across this admiral. It swooped around our heads checking us out and I felt was a likely candidate to land on an outstretched hand. They often enjoy a warm perch with a good view if there are no other suitable shrubs at head height available. However Mary wasn't for hanging about (and getting caught by the next shower.) We headed home before getting soaked again.
aptly, by the Water of Leith
It seems to have been a pretty good year for sunshine and now showers. I was thinking to myself this morning that it is great seeing so many butterflies enjoying the better weather this year. Then it struck me that they were all produced last year, which was supposed to be such a bad year for butterflies!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Nick, great to see more things this year in better numbers, and that fears last year of an insect armageddon after a terrible Spring and early Summer have not materialised.
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