Yesterday our daughter Robyn, who had stayed overnignt to see my sister before she went back home, decided to take Chris on an outing. They had been planning for a while and agreed that a trip to the highlands, specifically the pie shop, was where they would go.
After waving them off I finished my domestic chores, picked up my new camera and drove to our beautiful Botanic gardens. I had wanted to do this for so long and this was the perfect opportunity.
The weather couldn’t have been any better. Mid winter in the gardens gave a subdued showing of hardy flowers. The gardeners were congregated in the walled rose garden preparing to prune the dormant bushes. A reminder to me to do ours, maybe Chris will be up to it? This was his job last year.
I was heading for the cactus garden knowing that this would be where the true winter display of colour was guaranteed. With camera at the ready I spent as long as I could, taking pics of the plants, birds, bees and unusual delicate flowers amoungst the prickley spikes.
On the way back to the car, I paused to sit under a huge pine tree to take in the garden vista before me. On a branch above my head, a Magpie was preening himself. He stayed for a while, breaking out in a beautiful rendition of his best warbling. It flew down to the ground and walked off into the leaf litter, it was lunch time.
I passed the duck pond and rotunda. Many ducks , a sleeping goose and water hens were swimming and enjoying the sunshine.
Time to head home calling in to the shops on the way.
Robyn rang to say they were home and Chris was resting. I wasn’t far behind.
They had an enjoyable time together, I got to the gardens and gave my new camera a workout, so a good way to spend 2 1/2hrs.
To see some of my pics go to the menu.
Joans jottings 