A step too far

Today’s guest picture comes from our neighbour Liz, who recently visited the Eden Project in Cornwall and came across this giant insect.

We had another lovely day here and the flowers were looking very cheerful as a result, whether hanging over the edge of the dam…

..or popping up in a flower bed.

New tulips are opening on all sides…

…and the euphorbias are growing ever bigger and brighter.

I had a close peer at the magnolia because a reader had asked me if it had a good scent, but sadly, it is scentless for all its handsome looks.

I got out some magic granules that I had bought in a garden centre.  The packet says that they will perk up my grass and eat the moss on the lawn without the dead moss needing to be raked out.  This sounds far too good to be true but nevertheless, I measured and weighed carefully and spread them on the middle lawn as per the instructions on the packet.   I await developments (without holding my breath).

It was warm enough for a blackbird to do a little cooling down on one of the hedges…

…so I resolved to go for a walk to enjoy the sunshine and look for bluebells.

I found a charming red currant beside the river…

…but soon came upon a good show of bluebells along my favourite bluebell path.

They are not fully out yet but could still provide the blue ‘carpet’ that makes them so special at this time of year.

I don’t know who was more surprised when we met, this pheasant or me.

I walked through the bluebell wood…

…and took the path the leads to Gaskell’s Walk.

Although the larches below it are very green, Meikllholm Hill still looks bare.

There were several peacock butterflies warming their wings on the path as I went along.

Most of them flew off as I approached but this one settled down again for a moment.

The path itself was very springlike, and I think that this is the best time of the year to walk along it.

When I got to the Auld Stane Brig, I took a couple of pictures to show that we are still waiting for the leaves to appear on many of the trees around us…

…but the bridge is attractive at any time of year on a sunny day.

Sadly, by the time that I got home, it had become apparent that while wearing gel insoles might be very good for arthritic toes, it might also put a strain on an achilles tendon and my ‘good’ foot was so sore as a result that the rest of a lovely day was wasted in sitting around and moaning.

I did get outside enough to admire a pulsatilla…

…but that was the extent of the excitement.

The foot situation is very annoying as things were definitely getting better.  I hope that a good rest over night will see things back to where they were as it is a pity not get a cycle ride in when the weather is so fine.  Today taught me not to get too adventurous.

Mrs Tootlepedal made fish pie and apple crumble for our tea and that brightened things up a lot.