I haven’t been around much in the last week as I have had my first ever bout of flu! Needless to say, I haven’t been taking photographs, so here are a couple of shots from last year, revealing how unkind I can be to my camera. It doesn’t seem to mind being dumped onto wet grass, thanks perhaps to its weather seals. I love the unpredictability of this sort of shooting.
It’s been a while since I posted something buggy, so here’s a little leaf hopper hanging out on a blade of grass. I liked the way the background has the same two colours as the grass blade only the other way up.
Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But to me this little yellow psocid, hanging out against a complimentary background, is a thing of beauty.
Its common name is rather less attractive – it is a bark louse.
Unlike its relatives who live as pests in the home, this critter eats organic matter in the garden and really isn’t interested in coming indoors. It is very small indeed, about the size of a garden ant.
Psocids in the garden are often mistaken for aphids, but they can be distinguished by their large jaws, resembling those of crickets, and long antennae. If you can squint closely enough. Really, these details can only be noticed with the aid of a macro lens, or a magnifying glass.
I took far too many shots of this little critter. I need just one for a panel I am working on. Which do you like best?
Something different, hot off the presses today. I had fun making this abstract mosaic from shots of grass blowing in the breeze.
And sing with us, away, Winter, away!
Come, Summer, come the sweet seasoun and sun …
James I of Scotland, The Kingis Quair
